The Ocean King and his daughters came early for their guests. They had driven fast, and their sea-horses were covered with a lather of white foam. As they came shoreward the rising Sun dyed the sky a brilliant pink, and for a moment the water caught its color. And then it was delightful to watch the great rolling waves of the Sea blushing a delicate rosy shade. Ethelda with Prince Dorion and their friends stood on the creamy sands awaiting them. The Moon Princess wore a gown to match her blue eyes, and its exquisite train, embroidered in silver crescents, hung in heavy folds behind her.
Stepping lightly into the Ocean King’s chariot, Ethelda sat beside him. Prince Dorion followed, and very soon the whole party were comfortably seated among the mermaids. Away they started. Some snowy birds, watching them off, rose suddenly, and outstretching their long white wings, floated lazily away.
Billions of sapphire waves rolled in to meet them, but the horses sped easily through, leaving only a broad roadway of foam behind. The shining sun spread now over the wide expanse, and they seemed to be flying through golden mists, while their great frothy path glittered in as many colors as the rainbow. Farther and farther they went, deeper and deeper grew the rich color of the great deep, until it seemed impossible it could become bluer. Then slowly that brilliant blue changed, becoming a clear cool green, the shade of the coldest waters. Not until then did the Ocean King draw rein, and slowly descending, they finally stopped at the gates of his palace.
The palace was a wonder to behold. Its walls were built of richest mother-of-pearl, and shaded from purest white to the most delicate rose. Its broad staircases and wide halls were all of the same costly material, while its trimmings and ornamentations were pearls and diamonds of priceless worth.
The Ocean Queen came forth, with her younger children, to greet them. ([Page 25])
To keep the white light from dazzling with its splendor, the tall green seaweeds waved about, lending a delicious, cool shade, like the green trees on the dry land, so that everything was agreeable to the eye.
The Ocean Queen came forth, with her younger children, to greet them, and Ethelda thought she had never seen anything so delicately beautiful as the Queen. Her eyes were clear as crystal pools, and her hair—a bewildering mass of gold—floated about her, covering her almost completely. She wore a pale green dress trimmed with magnificent pearls, and on her head a crown of diamonds. She glided up to the strangers, and in the softest voice bade them welcome.
A magnificent banquet was served immediately, and then they were shown the wonders of the sea palace. Rooms filled with costly treasures were opened; chests of brilliant jewels were examined.
But while the guests were enchanted with so much splendor, the King explained that to the mermaid kingdom these heaps of diamonds and emeralds and rubies were really not worth a single piece of coral; for at these huge coral beds in the bottom of the sea the baby mermaids received their education. They were taught to swim and play games and amuse themselves, and later they lent their deft fingers to build and carve those exquisite mountains of the sea. When the Moon maidens saw the coral beds, they too shared the mermaids’ belief.