When they were alone , Graziella said to her governess : ` What a dreadful-looking creature that was ! Why do those odious sharks let him come near the tower ? I suppose all men are not like him ? ' ` No , indeed , ' replied Bonnetta . ' I suppose the sharks look on him as a sort of relation , and so did not attack him . ' A few days later the two ladies heard a strange sort of music , and looking out of the window , there was the merman , his head crowned with water plants , and blowing a great sea-shell with all his might . They went down to the tower door , and Graziella politely accepted some coral and other marine curiosities he had brought her . After this he used to come every evening , and blow his shell , or dive and play antics under the princess 's window . She contented herself with bowing to him from the balcony , but she would not go down to the door in spite of all his signs . Some days later he came with a person of his own kind , but of another sex . Her hair was dressed with great taste , and she had a lovely voice . This new arrival induced the ladies to go down to the door . They were surprised to find that , after trying various languages , she at last spoke to them in their own , and paid Graziella a very pretty compliment on her beauty . The mermaid noticed that the lower floor was full of water . ` Why , ' cried she , ` that is just the place for us , for we ca n't live quite out of water . ' So saying , she and her brother swam in and took up a position in the bathroom , the princess and her governess seating themselves on the steps which ran round the room . -LSB- Illustration : The Sea-People visit Graziella -RSB- ` No doubt , madam , ' said the mermaid , ` you have given up living on land so as to escape from crowds of lovers ; but I fear that even here you can not avoid them , for my brother is already dying of love for you , and I am sure that once you are seen in our city he will have many rivals . ' She then went on to explain how grieved her brother was not to be able to make himself understood , adding : ' I interpret for him , having been taught several languages by a fairy . ' ` Oh , then , you have fairies , too ? ' asked Graziella , with a sigh .
` Yes , we have , ' replied the XXXXX ; ` but if I am not mistaken you have suffered from the fairies on earth . '
arrival balcony beauty door land mermaid shell taste visit window