THE LAND OF THE MID-DAY MOON. 181

go back with me, and how can I face King
Rondo without him? Pray take pity on me,
beautiful mermaidens, and persuade him to
return with me.”

The mermaids ceased to adorn their tresses,
and gazed at Wassa for the first time. Her
face was worn and weary and tear-stained, and
the first approach to compassion they had ever
felt, came into their cold hearts.

All at once a gentle melody rose on the air,
that kept time to the waves rippling against
the shore, and as Wassa listened, all sense of
her trials left her, and weariness vanished.

As the mermaids sang, the naughty little
prince seemed to lose his desire to sport, and
{floated passively on the waves. Soon his
bright eyes grew dreamy, and the lids closed,
then opened, then closed again, and as the
song ceased they opened no more, and the
little fairy prince was in the land of dreams.

Carefully the mermaids placed the sleeping
prince in Wassa’s arms, and she bore him
away. Through the long and lofty arches
Wassa carried her sleeping charge, through
the fruit grove, and along the path bordered
by the gayly blooming flowers, until she reached