Русалочка

           Soshepassedquicklythroughthewoodandthemarsh,andbetweentherushingwhirlpools. Shesawthatinherfather’spalacethetorchesintheballroomwereextinguished,andallwithinasleep; butshedidnotventuretogointothem,fornowshewasdumbandgoingtoleavethemforever, shefeltasifherheartwouldbreak. Shestoleintothegarden,tookaflowerfromtheflower-bedsofeachofhersisters,kissedherhandathousandtimestowardsthepalace,andthenroseupthroughthedarkbluewaters. Thesunhadnotrisenwhenshecameinsightoftheprince’spalace,andapproachedthebeautifulmarblesteps, butthemoonshoneclearandbright. Thenthelittlemermaiddrankthemagicdraught,anditseemedasifatwo-edgedswordwentthroughherdelicatebody:shefellintoaswoon,andlaylikeonedead. Whenthesunaroseandshoneoverthesea,sherecovered,andfeltasharppain; butjustbeforeherstoodthehandsomeyoungprince. Hefixedhiscoal-blackeyesuponhersoearnestlythatshecastdownherown,andthenbecameawarethatherfish’stailwasgone,andthatshehadasprettyapairofwhitelegsandtinyfeetasanylittlemaidencouldhave; butshehadnoclothes,soshewrappedherselfinherlong,thickhair. Theprinceaskedherwhoshewas,andwhereshecamefrom,andshelookedathimmildlyandsorrowfullywithherdeepblueeyes;butshecouldnotspeak.