Русалочка

           Everystepshetookwasasthewitchhadsaiditwouldbe,shefeltasiftreadinguponthepointsofneedlesorsharpknives; butsheboreitwillingly,andsteppedaslightlybytheprince’ssideasasoap-bubble, sothatheandallwhosawherwonderedathergraceful-swayingmovements. Shewasverysoonarrayedincostlyrobesofsilkandmuslin,andwasthemostbeautifulcreatureinthepalace; butshewasdumb,andcouldneitherspeaknorsing. 

           Beautifulfemaleslaves,dressedinsilkandgold,steppedforwardandsangbeforetheprinceandhisroyalparents: onesangbetterthanalltheothers,andtheprinceclappedhishandsandsmiledather. Thiswasgreatsorrowtothelittlemermaid;sheknewhowmuchmoresweetlysheherselfcouldsingonce,andshethought, "Ohifhecouldonlyknowthat!Ihavegivenawaymyvoiceforever,tobewithhim." 

           Theslavesnextperformedsomeprettyfairy-likedances,tothesoundofbeautifulmusic. Thenthelittlemermaidraisedherlovelywhitearms,stoodonthetipsofhertoes,andglidedoverthefloor,anddancedasnooneyethadbeenabletodance. Ateachmomentherbeautybecamemorerevealed,andherexpressiveeyesappealedmoredirectlytotheheartthanthesongsoftheslaves. Everyonewasenchanted,especiallytheprince,whocalledherhislittlefoundling;andshedancedagainquitereadily,topleasehim, thougheachtimeherfoottouchedtheflooritseemedasifshetrodonsharpknives.