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approach the spot where he lay。 She seemedfrightened at first； but only for a moment； then she fetched anumber of people； and the mermaid saw that the prince came to lifeagain； and smiled upon those who stood round him。 But to her he sentno smile； he knew not that she had saved him。 This made her veryunhappy； and when he was led away into the great building； she diveddown sorrowfully into the water； and returned to her father'scastle。 She had always been silent and thoughtful； and now she wasmore so than ever。 Her sisters asked her what she had seen duringher first visit to the surface of the water； but she would tell themnothing。 Many an evening and morning did she rise to the place whereshe had left the prince。 She saw the fruits in the garden ripen tillthey were gathered； the snow on the tops of the mountains melt away；but she never saw the prince； and therefore she returned home；always more sorrowful than before。 It was her only fort to sit inher own little garden； and fling her arm round the beautiful marblestatue which was like the prince； but she gave up tending her flowers；and they grew in wild confusion over the paths； twining their longleaves and stems round the branches of the trees； so that the wholeplace became dark and gloomy。 At length she could bear it no longer；and told one of her sisters all about it。 Then the others heard thesecret； and very soon it became known to two mermaids whose intimatefriend happened to know who the prince was。 She had also seen thefestival on board ship； and she told them where the prince camefrom； and where his palace stood。
〃e； little sister；〃 said the other princesses； then theyentwined their arms and rose up in a long row to the surface of thewater； close by the spot where they knew the prince's palace stood。 Itwas built of bright yellow shining stone； with long flights ofmarble steps； one of which reached quite down to the sea。 Splendidgilded cupolas rose over the roof； and between the pillars thatsurrounded the whole building stood life…like statues of marble。Through the clear crystal of the lofty windows could be seen noblerooms； with costly silk curtains and hangings of tapestry； while thewalls were covered with beautiful paintings which were a pleasure tolook at。 In the centre of the largest saloon a fountain threw itssparkling jets high up into the glass cupola of the ceiling； throughwhich the sun shone down upon the water and upon the beautifulplants growing round the basin of the fountain。 Now that she knewwhere he lived； she spent many an evening and many a night on thewater near the palace。 She would swim much nearer the shore than anyof the others ventured to do； indeed once she went quite up the narrowchannel under the marble balcony； which threw a broad shadow on thewater。 Here she would sit and watch the young prince； who thoughthimself quite alone in the bright moonlight。 She saw him many times ofan evening sailing in a pleasant boat； with music playing and flagswaving。 She peeped out from among the green rushes； and if the windcaught her long silvery…white veil； those who saw it believed it to bea swan； spreading out its wings。 On many a night； too； when thefishermen； with their torches； were out at sea； she heard themrelate so many good things about the doings of the young prince；that she was glad she had saved his life when he had been tossed abouthalf…dead on the waves。 And she remembered that his head had rested onher bosom； and how heartily she had kissed him； but he knew nothing ofall this； and could not even dream of her。 She grew more and more fondof human beings； and wished more and more to be able to wander aboutwith those whose world seemed to be so much larger than her own。They could fly over the sea in ships； and mount the high hills whichwere far above the clouds； and the lands they possessed； their woodsand their fields； stretched far away beyond the reach of her sight。There was so much that she wished to know； and her sisters were unableto answer all her questions。 Then she applied to her oldgrandmother； who knew all about the upper world； which she veryrightly called the lands above the sea。
〃If human beings are not drowned；〃 asked the little mermaid；〃can they live forever？ do they never die as we do here in the sea？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the old lady； 〃they must also die； and their termof life is even shorter than ours。 We sometimes live to threehundred years； but when we cease to exist here we only bee the foamon the surface of the water； and we have not even a grave down here ofthose we love。 We have not immortal souls； we shall never liveagain； but； like the green sea…weed； when once it has been cut off； wecan never flourish more。 Human beings； on the contrary； have a soulwhich lives forever； lives after the body has been turned to dust。It rises up through the clear； pure air beyond the glittering stars。As we rise out of the water； and behold all the land of the earth；so do they rise to unknown and glorious regions which we shall neversee。〃
〃Why have not we an immortal soul？〃 asked the little mermaidmournfully； 〃I would give gladly all the hundreds of years that I haveto live； to be a human being only for one day； and to have the hope ofknowing the happiness of that glorious world above the stars。〃
〃You must not think of that；〃 said the old woman； 〃we feelourselves to be much happier and much better off than human beings。〃
〃So I shall die；〃 said the little mermaid； 〃and as the foam of thesea I shall be driven about never again to hear the music of thewaves； or to see the pretty flowers nor the red sun。 Is there anythingI can do to win an immortal soul？〃
〃No；〃 said the old woman； 〃unless a man were to love you so muchthat you were more to him than his father or mother； and if all histhoughts and all his love were fixed upon you； and the priest placedhis right hand in yours； and he promised to be true to you here andhereafter； then his soul would glide into your body and you wouldobtain a share in the future happiness of mankind。 He would give asoul to you and retain his own as well； but this can never happen。Your fish's tail； which amongst us is considered so beautiful； isthought on earth to be quite ugly； they do not know any better； andthey think it necessary to have two stout props； which they call legs；in order to be handsome。〃
Then the little mermaid sighed； and looked sorrowfully at herfish's tail。 〃Let us be happy；〃 said the old lady； 〃and dart andspring about during the three hundred years that we have to live；which is really quite long enough； after that we can rest ourselvesall the better。 This evening we are going to have a court ball。〃
It is one of those splendid sights which we can never see onearth。 The walls and the ceiling of the large ball…room were of thick；but transparent crystal。 May hundreds of colossal shells； some of adeep red； others of a grass green； stood on each side in rows； withblue fire in them； which lighted up the whole saloon； and shohrough the walls； so that the sea was also illuminated。 Innumerablefishes； great and small； swam past the crystal walls； on some ofthem the scales glowed with a purple brilliancy； and on others theyshone like silver and gold。 Through the halls flowed a broad stream；and in it danced the mermen and the mermaids to the music of their ownsweet singing。 No one on earth has such a lovely voice as theirs。The little mermaid sang more sweetly than them all。 The whole courtapplauded her with hands and tails； and for a moment her heart feltquite gay； for she knew she had the loveliest voice of any on earth orin the sea。 But she soon thought again of the world above her； for shecould not forget the charming prince； nor her sorrow that she hadnot an immortal soul like his； therefore she crept away silently outof her father's palace； and while everything within was gladness andsong； she sat in her own little garden sorrowful and alone。 Then sheheard the bugle sounding through the water； and thought… 〃He iscertainly sailing above； he on whom my wishes depend； and in whosehands I should like to place the happiness of my life。 I willventure all for him； and to win an immortal soul； while my sisters aredancing in my father's palace； I will go to the sea witch； of whom Ihave always been s