180 THE FAIRY-FOLK OF THE BLUE HILL.

“Prince!” cried Wassa joyfully, “dear
prince! At last I have found thee again!
Come back at once to the palace. The king
will be alarmed at thy long delay.”

The prince, however, did not reply, but con-
tinued his sport, and Wassa renewed her en-
treaties.

“Do come back,” she cried. “If thou couldst
know what I have undergone to find thee, Iam
sure thou wouldst not refuse me.”

“No, no! I will not go, I say;
With pretty mermaids I will stay.
Through the green sea I like to glide,
And on the white-capped waves I ride.”

At this reply poor Wassa was in despair.
Meanwhile the mermaidens floated on the
water, weaving pearls and shining sea-grass in
their beautiful hair, and gazing at the charm-
ing pictures reflected in their mirrors. They
looked so smiling and happy that Wassa
found courage to appeal to them.

“QO beautiful mermaidens,” she cried, ex-
tending her hands imploringly, “take pity on
me. All this dreary way have I come to find
this wilful prince, and hard tasks have I under-
taken in order to find him. Now he refuses to