96 Make-Believe

were something different from the thing
you are now?”

“That's rather puzzling, Doris,” was the
reply. ‘“ Yes, I have been something very
different from the thing Iam now. Why,
not so long ago... . But tell me what
you mean.”

Doris leaned over the side of the boat,

and looked down once again into the clear
water. ‘Look down,” she said, and when
her comrade had obeyed, she was silent for
a space, and seemed to watch the shifting
of the brown weed as if it would remind
her of something she had almost forgotten.
The Visitor was quietly watching her, and
presently he spoke:

“What were you: going to tell me,
Doris ?” 3

Doris still gazed into the water with a
very grave face. ‘Once upon a time,”
she said—‘‘a long time ago, I think—I
was a mermaid.”

“Yes?” said the Visitor, without sur-
prise. ‘‘How is it that you manage to