Русалочка

           "Come,littlesister,"saidtheotherprincesses;thentheyentwinedtheirarmsandroseupinalongrowtothesurfaceofthewater,closebythespotwheretheyknewtheprince’spalacestood. Itwasbuiltofbrightyellowshiningstone,withlongflightsofmarblesteps,oneofwhichreachedquitedowntothesea. Splendidgildedcupolasroseovertheroof,andbetweenthepillarsthatsurroundedthewholebuildingstoodlife-likestatuesofmarble. Throughtheclearcrystaloftheloftywindowscouldbeseennoblerooms,withcostlysilkcurtainsandhangingsoftapestry;whilethewallswerecoveredwithbeautifulpaintingswhichwereapleasuretolookat. Inthecentreofthelargestsaloonafountainthrewitssparklingjetshighupintotheglasscupolaoftheceiling,throughwhichthesunshonedownuponthewateranduponthebeautifulplantsgrowingroundthebasinofthefountain. Nowthatsheknewwherehelived,shespentmanyaneveningandmanyanightonthewaternearthepalace. Shewouldswimmuchnearertheshorethananyoftheothersventuredtodo;indeedonceshewentquiteupthenarrowchannelunderthemarblebalcony,whichthrewabroadshadowonthewater. Hereshewouldsitandwatchtheyoungprince,whothoughthimselfquitealoneinthebrightmoonlight. Shesawhimmanytimesofaneveningsailinginapleasantboat,withmusicplayingandflagswaving. Shepeepedoutfromamongthegreenrushes,andifthewindcaughtherlongsilvery-whiteveil,thosewhosawitbelievedittobeaswan,spreadingoutitswings.