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CHAPTER 6 - EXPLORING THE OCEAN

The queen now requested her guests to recline upon couches that they might rest

themselves from their long swim and talk more at their ease. So the girl and the

sailor allowed themselves to float downward until they rested their bodies on two

of the couches nearest the throne, which were willingly vacated for them by the

mermaids who occupied them until then.

The visitors soon found themselves answering a great many questions about their

life on the earth, for although the queen had said she kept track of what was

going on on the land, there were many details of human life in which all the

mermaids seemed greatly interested.

During the conversation several sea-maids came swimming into the room bearing

trays of sea apples and other fruit, which they first offered to the queen, and then

passed the refreshments around to the company assembled. Trot and Cap'n Bill

each took some, and the little girl found the fruits delicious to eat, as they had a

richer flavor than any that grew upon land. Queen Aquareine was much pleased

when the old sailor asked for more, but Merla warned him dinner would soon be

served and he must take care not to spoil his appetite for that meal. "Our dinner

is at noon, for we have to cook in the middle of the day when the sun is shining,"

she said.

Cook!" cried Trot. "Why, you can't build a fire in the water, can you?"

We have no need of fires," was the reply. "The glass roof of our kitchen is so

curved that it concentrates the heat of the sun's rays, which are then hot enough

to cook anything we wish."

But how do you get along if the day is cloudy, and the sun doesn't shine?"

inquired the little girl.

"Then we use the hot springs that bubble up in another part of the palace," Merla

answered. "But the sun is the best to cook by." So it was no surprise to Trot

when, about noon, dinner was announced and all the mermaids, headed by their

queen and their guests, swam into another spacious room where a great, long

table was laid. The dishes were of polished gold and dainty-cut glass, and the

cloth and napkins of fine gossamer. Around the table were ranged rows of

couches for the mermaids to recline upon as they ate. Only the nobility and

favorites of Queen Aquareine were invited to partake of this repast, for Clia

explained that tables were set for the other mermaids in different parts of the

numerous palaces.

The Sea Fairies