Page 272 - Adventures in shadow-land

jealous of my beauty— just like three mortal mer­
maids/'

“ Jealous of that stick indeed I” cried Cymo*
doce, answering his thought.

**Men !" said Arethusa. “ Panope, tny darling,
they arc just the creatures they always were in the

water or out of it.’1
" So it seems/’ said Panope, playing in the sand

with her little pink toes like a mortal girl.
“ I assure you, sir/* said Cymodoce, gravely,

“ that you are under a serious mistake. That
figure is a mere painted figure-head, quite incap­

able of a rational thought or instructive con versa*
tion.”

u What we admire in woman is her affections,
not her intellect/' said the merman,

“ Look at me 1" said Arethusa; and the tall
nymph stood up before him in all her immortal
beauty and shook down her golden hair till it

swept her ankles.

“ My dear Arethusa/1 said Cymodoce, **let me
ask you to consider if this is quite proper?1'
Panopc only smiled, and Arethusa took no sort

of notice.