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.
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