Page:The Enchanted Knights; or The Chronicle of the Three Sisters.djvu/59

Rh On awakening one morning he found himself in a kingly palace on a small island—houses, gardens, markets, all seemed to glide upon the water—a hundred gondolas floated up and down the channels, and pleasure and gaiety beamed upon the face of the concourse crowding the public squares—in short the residence of brother dolphin was Venice in miniature. The reception the young knight met with was as cordial and welcome as at the courts of the other enchanted knights. The spell that bound Ufo, the dolphin, continued always for six months—the seventh was one of repose when the influence of the enchantment ceased, and every thing relapsed into its natural state. Reginald’s stay being of longer duration here than at the former places he became more intimate with his brother-in-law Ufo. Although curiosity for a long time tormented him as he desired to know by what chance the three princes were forced under the bondage of witchcraft, and though he had many times entreated Bertha to make him acquainted with the circumstances he learned nothing—his sister being ignorant, and Ufo keepmg an obdurate silence upon all respecting it. The days flew on the wings of joy, and the moon was fast filling her pale disk.