Page 284 - Adventures in shadow-land

I am sorry I came back. Either the world has

grown a sad place, or else I had forgotten what it
used to be. But I don’t know; I almost broke
my heart over Prometheus when I was quite a

young thing. I could have helped him take care

of his beloved human race a great deal better than
Asia, but he never cared anything for me* It is
all over long ago. Is there nothing that I can do

for you, my dear?”

The mermaid was silent a minute. Then she
said :
ifl think I should like to take him home to his

friends, I know they would wish it should be so,”

u It shall be,” said Pan ope. ** Wait here, and
I will bring him to you. But, my dear child, you
axe so quiet. All the mortal women I ever knew

in the old days, in the sea Or out, would have tom

their hair and screamed, but you are so different.”
The mermaid looked up with a little ghost of a
smile, half proud, half pitiful. “ I suppose it is

because I was born in American waters,” she said*
“ Wait but a little/’ said Panope. “ The whale

will take care of you. He is a good creature.
His great-grandfathers were pets of mine long ago.