Princess: (Drawing back her hand.) Mine is
not made yet.
First Aunt: Didn't you hear me saying, and
the Prince saying, there is nothing could be laid
down against it.
Princess: There is one thing against it.
Queen: Oh, there can be nothing worth while!
Princess: A thing you would think a great
drawback and all your kindred would think it.
Queen: (Rapidly.) There is nothing, but maybe
that she is not so tall as you might think, through
the length of the heels of her shoes.
Second Aunt: We would put up with that much.
Princess: (Rapidly.) It is that there was a
spell put upon me—by a water-witch that was of
my kindred. At some hours of the day I am as
you see me, but at other hours I am changed into
a sea-filly from the Country-under-Wave. And
when I smell salt on the west wind I must race and
race and race. And when I hear the call of the
gulls or the sea-eagles over my head, I must leap
up to meet them till I can hardly tell what is my
right element, is it the high air or is it the loosened
spring-tide!
Queen: Stop your nonsense talk. She is gone
wild and raving with the great luck that is come
to her!
(Prince has stood up, and is watching her
eagerly.)