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Wet Magic So the Mermaid they had rescued was a Queen's daughter!

"I didn't know you were a Princess," said Mavis, as they followed the Queen along a corridor.

"That's why they have made such a fuss, I suppose," said Bernard.

"Oh, no, we should have given the ovation to anyone who had saved any of us from captivity. We love giving ovations. Only we so seldom get the chance, and even ordinary entertaining is difficult. People are so prejudiced. We can hardly ever get anyone to come and visit us. I shouldn't have got you if you hadn't happened to find that cave. It would have been quite impossible for me to give Kathleen that clinging embrace from shallow water. The cave water is so much more buoyant than the sea. I daresay you noticed that."

Yes—they had.

"May we sit next you at the banquet?" Kathleen asked suddenly, "because, you know, it's all rather strange to us."

"Of course, dear," said the sea lady.

"But," said Bernard, "I'm awfully sorry, but I think we ought to go home."

"Oh, don't talk of it," said the Mermaid. "Why, you've only just come."

Bernard muttered something about getting home in time to wash for tea.

"There'll be heaps of time," said Francis impatiently; "don't fuss and spoil everything."

"I'm not fussing," said Bernard, stolid as ever. "I never fuss. But I think we ought to be thinking of getting home."

"Well, think about it then," said Francis impatiently, and turned to admire the clusters of scarlet flowers that hung from the pillars of the gallery.

The banquet was very magnificent, but they never could 88