Русалочка

           Thenthelittlemermaid,whowasveryanxioustoseewhethershewasreallybeautiful,wasobligedtoacknowledgethatshehadneverseenamoreperfectvisionofbeauty. Herskinwasdelicatelyfair,andbeneathherlongdarkeye-lashesherlaughingblueeyesshonewithtruthandpurity. 

           "Itwasyou,"saidtheprince, "whosavedmylifewhenIlaydeadonthebeach," andhefoldedhisblushingbrideinhisarms. "Oh,Iamtoohappy,"saidhetothelittlemermaid; "myfondesthopesareallfulfilled. Youwillrejoiceatmyhappiness;foryourdevotiontomeisgreatandsincere." 

           Thelittlemermaidkissedhishand,andfeltasifherheartwerealreadybroken. Hisweddingmorningwouldbringdeathtoher,andshewouldchangeintothefoamofthesea. Allthechurchbellsrung,andtheheraldsrodeaboutthetownproclaimingthebetrothal. Perfumedoilwasburningincostlysilverlampsoneveryaltar. Thepriestswavedthecensers,whilethebrideandbridegroomjoinedtheirhandsandreceivedtheblessingofthebishop. Thelittlemermaid,dressedinsilkandgold,heldupthebride’strain; butherearsheardnothingofthefestivemusic,andhereyessawnottheholyceremony; shethoughtofthenightofdeathwhichwascomingtoher,andofallshehadlostintheworld. Onthesameeveningthebrideandbridegroomwentonboardship; cannonswereroaring,flagswaving,andinthecentreoftheshipacostlytentofpurpleandgoldhadbeenerected. Itcontainedelegantcouches,forthereceptionofthebridalpairduringthenight.