有声英语儿童童话故事 海的女儿 第10章

“Well, now you are grown up,”said the old dowager, her grandmother. “Come, and let me adorn you like yoursisters.” And she placed in her hair a wreath of white lilies, of which everyflower leaf was half a pearl. Then the old lady ordered eight great oysters toattach themselves to the tail of the princess to show her high rank.

“But they hurt me so,” said thelittle mermaid.

“Yes, I know; pride must sufferpain,” replied the old lady.

Oh, how gladly she would haveshaken off all this grandeur and laid aside the heavy wreath! The red flowersin her own garden would have suited her much better. But she could not changeherself, so she said farewell and rose as lightly as a bubble to the surface ofthe water.

The sun had just set when sheraised her head above the waves. The clouds were tinted with crimson and gold,and through the glimmering twilight beamed the evening star in all its beauty.The sea was calm, and the air mild and fresh. A large ship with three masts laybecalmed on the water; only one sail was set, for not a breeze stirred, and thesailors sat idle on deck or amidst the rigging. There was music and song onboard, and as darkness came on, a hundred colored lanterns were lighted, as ifthe flags of all nations waved in the air.