She now noticed that the mermaids were clothed, too, and their exquisite gowns were the loveliest thing the little girl had ever beheld.  They seemed made of a material that was like sheeny silk, cut low in the neck and with wide, flowing sleeves that seldom covered the shapely, white arms of her new friends.  The gowns had trains that floated far behind the mermaids as they swam, but were so fleecy and transparent that the sparkle of their scales might be seen reaching back of their waists, where the human form ended and the fish part began.  The sea fairies wore strings of splendid pearls twined around their throats, while more pearls were sewn upon their gowns for trimmings.  They did not dress their beautiful hair at all, but let it float around them in clouds.

The little girl had scarcely time to observe all this when the princess said, “Now, my dear, if you are ready, we will begin our journey, for it is a long way to our palaces.”

“All right,” answered Trot, and took the hand extended to her with a trustful smile.

“Will you allow me to guide you, Cap’n Bill?” asked the blonde mermaid, extending her hand to the old sailor.

“Of course, ma’am,” he said, taking her fingers rather bashfully.

“My name is Merla,” she continued, “and I am cousin to Princess Clia.  We must all keep together, you know, and I will hold your hand to prevent your missing the way.”

While she spoke they began to descend through the water, and it grew quite dark for a time because the cave shut out the light.  But presently Trot, who was eagerly looking around her, began to notice the water lighten and saw they were coming into brighter parts of the sea.  “We have left the cave now,” said Clia, “and may swim straight home.”

“I s’pose there are no winding roads in the ocean,” remarked the child, swimming swiftly beside her new friend.

“Oh yes indeed.  At the bottom, the way is far from being straight or level,” replied Clia.  “But we are in mid-water now, where nothing will hinder our journey, unless—­”

She seemed to hesitate, so Trot asked, “Unless what?”

“Unless we meet with disagreeable creatures,” said the Princess.  “The mid-water is not as safe as the very bottom, and that is the reason we are holding your hands.”

“What good would that do?” asked Trot.

“You must remember that we are fairies,” said Princess Clia.  “For that reason, nothing in the ocean can injure us, but you two are mortals and therefore not entirely safe at all times unless we protect you.”

Trot was thoughtful for a few moments and looked around her a little anxiously.  Now and then a dark form would shoot across their pathway or pass them at some distance, but none was near enough for the girl to see plainly what it might be.  Suddenly they swam right into a big school of fishes, all yellowtails and of very large size.  There must have been hundreds of them lying lazily in the water, and when they saw the mermaids they merely wriggled to one side and opened a path for the sea fairies to pass through.  “Will they hurt us?” asked Trot.