Two short pieces about mermaids, or under-water fairies.
MERMAIDS
The event I am writing about happened in Laughliroor Cove. Goodness knows why it was named that, or who named it; maybe it was because the little wavelets were forever dancing and laughing in the sun. One evening, after Laughliroor Cove had been silent all day, save for a fish jumping now and then, a mermaid rose from her enchanted palace in the depths, the wonderful depths haunted by strange fishes some luminous with strange beautiful lights, of a smoky purple or gray-green colour. And as she rose another creature, a fairy, glided down from the air to meet her. And the head of the fairy touched the water, just as the mermaid’s rose above. “Sirinda,” whispered the “under-water fairy” as many call mermaids, “Sirinda. Have you heard—anything?”
“Hist, Perndrainus,” replied Sirinda, the nymph, “for if—but no—I have heard!”
“Oh, tell me!”
“It lies, at least she said so, in that wondrous cave of her sister. Its roof is encrusted with wondrous shining rocks and sometimes even gems! There are pearls and moonstones along the bottom, too, she said, but one has to hunt for them. And oh! Perdrainee, there are such wonderful little fishes swimming about there, of blue and gold and vivid green.… Read more