“‘Oh, ocean blue, oh, ocean grey,
I’ve never seen you before to-day.
Grant to me, oh, grant, I pray,
The wish I wish to you to-day.’
“Out of the wildest of the waves skipped a tiny veil of blue, waving and swaying across the sky like a bit of smoke. Straight to Winfred it came and fluttered to his feet. Then he saw that it was a sprite, a tiny blue one, no larger than himself. The water sprite was dressed like a Queen’s page, all golden and blue, and he carried the smallest imaginable trumpet in his hand. He took off his hat and bowed.
“‘Prince Winfred,’ he said, ‘I have come from the salty sea with a message for you.’
“‘I saw you coming,’ said Winfred. ‘I should think you would lose your breath when you travel through the water.’
“‘One does,’ said the sprite, ‘if one keeps one’s mouth open. But I breathe through my ears. Why don’t you try it?’
“Winfred tried, but he couldn’t.
“‘Please,’ he said, ‘what is your message?’