The Sea King had been a widower for many years, and his aged mother
kept house for him. She was a very wise woman, and exceedingly proud of
her high birth; on that account she wore twelve oysters on her tail; while
others, also of high rank, were only allowed to wear six. She was, however,
deserving of very great praise, especially for her care of the little sea-
princesses, her grand-daughters. They were six beautiful children; but the
youngest was the prettiest of them all; her skin was as clear and delicate as
a rose-leaf, and her eyes as blue as the deepest sea; but, like all the others,
she had no feet, and her body ended in a fish’s tail. All day long they played
in the great halls of the castle, or among the living flowers that grew out of
the walls. The large amber windows were open, and the fish swam in, just
as the swallows fly into our houses when we open the windows, excepting
that the fishes swam up to the princesses, ate out of their hands, and allowed
themselves to be stroked. Outside the castle there was a beautiful garden, in
which grew bright red and dark blue flowers, and blossoms like flames of
