Русалочка

           Shedidnotwaitlongbeforeshesawayounggirlapproachthespotwherehelay. Sheseemedfrightenedatfirst,butonlyforamoment;thenshefetchedanumberofpeople, andthemermaidsawthattheprincecametolifeagain,andsmileduponthosewhostoodroundhim. Buttoherhesentnosmile;heknewnotthatshehadsavedhim. Thismadeherveryunhappy,andwhenhewasledawayintothegreatbuilding,shediveddownsorrowfullyintothewater,andreturnedtoherfather’scastle. Shehadalwaysbeensilentandthoughtful,andnowshewasmoresothanever. Hersistersaskedherwhatshehadseenduringherfirstvisittothesurfaceofthewater;butshewouldtellthemnothing. Manyaneveningandmorningdidsherisetotheplacewhereshehadlefttheprince. Shesawthefruitsinthegardenripentilltheyweregathered,thesnowonthetopsofthemountainsmeltaway;butsheneversawtheprince,andthereforeshereturnedhome,alwaysmoresorrowfulthanbefore. Itwasheronlycomforttositinherownlittlegarden,andflingherarmroundthebeautifulmarblestatuewhichwasliketheprince;butshegaveuptendingherflowers,andtheygrewinwildconfusionoverthepaths,twiningtheirlongleavesandstemsroundthebranchesofthetrees,sothatthewholeplacebecamedarkandgloomy. Atlengthshecouldbearitnolonger,andtoldoneofhersistersallaboutit. Thentheothersheardthesecret,andverysoonitbecameknowntotwomermaidswhoseintimatefriendhappenedtoknowwhotheprincewas. Shehadalsoseenthefestivalonboardship,andshetoldthemwheretheprincecamefrom,andwherehispalacestood.