When you have got so far, look into the water, and at the same moment you will see the Brownie, and think of a word that will fill up the couplet, and rhyme with the first line. If either you do not see the Brownie, or fail to think of the word, it will be of no use.”
“Is the Brownie a mermaid,” said Tommy, wriggling himself along the beam, “that he lives under water?”
“That depends on whether he has a fish’s tail,” said the Owl, “and this you can discover for yourself.”
“Well, the moon is shining, so I shall go,” said Tommy. “Good-bye, and thank you, Ma’am;” and he jumped down and went, saying to himself as he ran, “I believe he is a merman all the same, or else how could he live in the mere? I know more about Brownies than Granny does, and I shall tell her so;” for Tommy was somewhat opinionated, like other young people.
The moon shone very brightly on the centre of the mere. Tommy knew the place well for there was a fine echo there. Round the edge grew rushes and water plants, which cast a border of shadow. Tommy went to the north side, and turning himself three times, as the old Owl had told him, he repeated the charm—
‘Twist me, and turn me, and show me the Elf—
I looked in the water, and saw—’
Now for it. He looked in, and saw—the reflection of his own face.
“Why, there’s no one but myself!” said Tommy. “And what can the word be? I must have done it wrong.”
“Wrong!” said the Echo.