the iceberg express(冰山直通车)-第2章
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which she knocked with a flap of her finny tail。 It was immediately
opened by a merman dressed in the uniform of a court page。 〃What can I
do for you； Your Highness？〃 he asked； bowing low。
〃Why； are you a princess？〃 asked Mary Louise in surprise； turning
quickly to the mermaid and forgetting for the moment that they were on
the steps of a real merman's castle。
The little mermaid only laughed in reply； and taking Mary Louise by
the hand led her through the coral doors to King Seaphus。
His Majesty was seated on a throne of pearl； studded with many
precious stones。 A long emerald robe fell from his shoulders and on his
head rested a magnificent crown set with glittering jewels； which gleamed
and sparkled in the dim light of the royal chamber。
〃Ah； my daughter； whom have you here？〃 he asked； leaning from the
throne and gazing intently at little Mary Louise。 〃Methinks she is a
mermaidized mortal！〃 At which the King laughed loudly； for he was
very fond of coining words and was busily engaged； when his state duties
did not interfere； in compiling a new dictionary。
〃You are right； Father Seaphus；〃 replied his beautiful daughter。 〃Let
me introduce little Mary Louise。〃
The King rose graciously and extended his royal right hand。 Mary
Louise made a low curtsey； finding it much easier now that she was a
mermaid to perform this little act of graciousness on account of the
flexibility of her tail。
Legs； of course； are indispensable for walking； but； then； in these days
of new inventions； when the air is invaded by wing； and the earth
traversed by wheels； and the depths of the waters by mechanical fins；
walking may soon become a lost art！ Something like this may have
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flitted through her mind； but she only answered in a trembling voice；
〃How do you do； Your Majesty！〃
〃You are welcome； 'Mermaid Mary；' to our Kingdom of the Sea；〃 he
replied。 〃I hope you will enjoy your stay with us。〃 So saying； he
gallantly lifted his gold crown as little Mary Louise made another curtsey。
〃Let us dress for dinner；〃 said the mermaid。
They swam quickly upstairs between two balustrades of lovely coral to
her bedroom。
It was just like fairy…land； at least； it seemed so to little Mary Louise；
as she looked about the pretty room。 In one corner stood a beautiful bed
of mother…of…pearl； hung with varied colored sea grass for curtains。 Sea
moss made it as soft as down。 In fact； it seemed almost softer to Mary
Louise； who by this time was very sleepy。 She rested her tired little body
upon the cushions and in a few short seconds was sound asleep。 The
princess mermaid looked at her with loving eyes； while she sang very low
and sweetly：
〃Sleep； little sister； for when you awake； We'll have a fine dinner of
fishes and cake！〃
I think the mermaid took somewhat after her royal father for she often
spoke in rhyme； which she composed as she talked； while his great delight；
as has been mentioned before； was to coin a new word for his dictionary。
Leaving Mary Louise to her slumbers； the princess mermaid sat herself
down before her mirror and combed her hair。 Presently； she went over to
her wardrobe and took out a beautiful shimmery pink shawl。 What it was
made of I cannot tell； except that it shivered and quivered with little colors
like a rainbow。 Perhaps it was made of changeable sea…silk。
At any rate； Mary Louise； who at that moment opened her eyes；
thought it was the most exquisite thing she had ever seen。
〃Is it really for me？ Is it really？〃 she asked with a cry of delight； as
the mermaid came toward her。
〃Of course it is； my dear；〃 replied the mermaid princess；〃 and as soon
as you have put it on； and combed your hairyou needn't wash your hands
and face； you knowthe banquet will be ready。〃
Mary Louise clapped her hands and hopped； or； rather； flopped about；
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so happy was she to receive such a gift in the depths of the sea。
When she was dressed in the lovely shawl； and a beautiful mother…of…
pearl comb fastened in her hair； the princess mermaid declared she looked
〃too sweet for anything！〃 Then they floated down； arm in arm； to the
great dining hall。
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King Seaphus
The great dining hall of King Seaphus was considered by all the
inhabitants of Merlandthat is； all those who had been lucky enough to
have seen its splendorto be the most magnificent of its kind anywhere。
The dining table； or banquet board； as it was called； was made of
mother…of…pearl。 The pale； shimmery cloth was woven from the most
delicate of sea…grasses。 The gold and silver plates shone with a strange
luster； and the goblets； fashioned of the thinnest and most exquisite pearl；
gave the impression that they were strange sea lilies。
King Seaphus seated himself majestically at th head of the banquet
board； and little Mary Louise was shown the place on his right。 At the
other end sat the Mermaid Princess。 Mermen in dark green liveries
served the meal。 But what delighted and interested Mary Louise the
most was the way in which the food was served。 Instead of ordinary；
everyday dishes； it appeared in little airtight boats； which the servants
guided dexterously to the table； and when opened； the steam escaped in
hundreds of little bubbles that took on all the hues of the rainbow。 These
slowly ascended through the pale green water until they reached the
surface； where they probably floated off in the air； until they burst； like
fairy soap…bubbles。
All kinds of delicious fish； little pink and white crabs； goldfish；
luscious oysters； and； finally； coral…candy； made up the different courses of
the dinner。 When it was over and the coffee was served in a beautiful
room adjoining； King Seaphus smoked a big cigar； which； to Mary
Louise's amazement； glowed and burned like any ordinary Havana her
father smoked at home。
After King Seaphus had smoked away in perfect silence for some time；
he turned to Mary Louise and asked：
〃Where were you going； my dear； when you met my daughter？〃
〃Oh； nowhere in particular；〃 replied little Mary Louise quickly。 〃You
see； I was playing on the beach when I saw the Princess； andandand…〃
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〃Then I combed her hair with my magic comb；〃 said the Princess；
coming to the relief of little Mary Louise； who was very much
embarrassed by the question。 You see； she was not at all accustomed to
hold conversation with royalty； and to be talking to a Merman King was；
perhaps； even more disconcerting。
〃We took the subway；〃 continued his daughter； 〃we caught the Iceberg
Express； and； well； here we are。〃
〃So I see；〃 said the King。
Mary Louise gave a giggle and； forgetting her embarrassment；
exclaimed； 〃And just as we were safe on board； after the Polar Bear porter
had told us to 'watch our step；' there was an awful explosion； and we found
ourselves floating about in the midst of a lot of cracked ice。〃
〃Indeed；〃 exclaimed King Seaphus； 〃this is the second time in the last
month we've had an accident on the Sea Bottom Subway。 I must call in
my Prime Minister and have an investigation begun at once。〃
Pulling vigorously on a beautifully braided sea…grass rope； he awaited
the coming of a page。 Little Mary Louise heard the far…off tinkle of the
bell； and presently the Mer…bell…boy appeared。
〃Summon his most excellent self； the Prime Minister；〃 commanded
King Seaphus。
The Mer…boy page glided away and presently appeared； deferentially
escorting the Prime Minister。 The latter was a very distinguished looking
person。 His long； white beard was parted gracefully in the center； no
doubt by the action of the water as he swam up to where the King sat。 As
befitted so important an official； he was clad in a long； red robe； which
reached nearly to the end of his fin…tail。 His head was adorned with a
crimson cap and tassel made of the softest velvet sea…grass。
〃What is your majesty's command？〃 he asked； bending low before
King Seaphus。 The King did not reply for a moment。 He was a wise
King； and thought for several minutes before he spoke。 This made the
Prime Minister fidget about on his tail。 If he had been a Prime Minister
of any land； and not of the sea； he probably would have stood first on one
leg and then on the other； but； as he had no feet； he shifted about uneasily
on his fin…tail until the King spoke。
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〃I hear there has been another wreck on the Sea Bottom Subway。〃
The Prime Minister coughed； and little bubbles rose from the end of
his nose； the sight of which almost caused Mary Louise to giggle aloud。
But she remembered her manners in time and saved herself the
mortification of such a breach of etiquette。
〃Yes； Your Royal Highness；〃 admitted the Prime Minister； 〃but I
understand it was not at all serious。 One o
