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only person in my father's kingdom that can't fall！〃
Here the poor princess looked almost sad。
〃I shall be most happy to fall in with you any time you like；〃 said
the prince； devotedly。
〃Thank you。 I don't know。 Perhaps it would not be proper。 But I
don't care。 At all events； as we have fallen in； let us have a swim
together。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 responded the prince。
And away they went； swimming； and diving； and floating； until at
last they heard cries along the shore； and saw lights glancing in
all directions。 It was now quite late； and there was no moon。
〃I must go home；〃 said the princess。 〃I am very sorry； for this is
delightful。〃
〃So am I；〃 returned the prince。 〃But I am glad I haven't a home to
go toat least； I don't exactly know where it is。〃
〃I wish I hadn't one either；〃 rejoined the princess； 〃it is so
stupid！ I have a great mind；〃 she continued； 〃to play them all a
trick。 Why couldn't they leave me alone？ They won't trust me in the
lake for a single night！You see where that green light is
burning？ That is the window of my room。 Now if you would just swim
there with me very quietly； and when we are all but under the
balcony； give me such a pushup you call it…as you did a little
while ago； I should be able to catch hold of the balcony； and get
in at the window； and then they may look for me till to…morrow
morning！〃
〃With more obedience than pleasure；〃 said the prince； gallantly；
and away they swam； very gently。
〃Will you be in the lake to…morrow night？〃 the prince ventured to
ask。
〃To be sure I will。 I don't think so。 Perhaps；〃 was the princess's
somewhat strange answer。
But the prince was intelligent enough not to press her further； and
merely whispered； as he gave her the parting lift； 〃Don't tell。〃
The only answer the princess returned was a roguish look。 She was
already a yard above his head。 The look seemed to say； 〃Never fear。
It is too good fun to spoil that way。〃
So perfectly like other people had she been in the water； that even
yet the prince could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw her
ascend slowly； grasp the balcony； and disappear through the window。
He turned； almost expecting to see her still by his side。 But he
was alone in the water。 So he swam away quietly； and watched the
lights roving about the shore for hours after the princess was safe
in her chamber。 As soon as they disappeared； he landed in search of
his tunic and sword； and； after some trouble； found them again。
Then he made the best of his way round the lake to the other side。
There the wood was wilder； and the shore steeper…rising more
immediately towards the mountains which surrounded the lake on all
sides； and kept sending it messages of silvery streams from morning
to night； and all night long。 He soon found a spot whence he could
see the green light in the princess's room； and where； even in
the broad daylight； he would be in no danger of being discovered
from the opposite shore。 It was a sort of cave in the rock； where
he provided himself a bed of withered leaves； and lay down too
tired for hunger to keep him awake。 All night long he dreamed that
he was swimming with the princess。
10。 Look at the Moon。
Early the next morning the prince set out to look for something to
eat； which he soon found at a forester's hut； where for many
following days he was supplied with all that a brave prince could
consider necessary。 And having plenty to keep him alive for the
present； he would not think of wants not yet in existence。 Whenever
Care intruded； this prince always bowed him out in the most
princely manner。
When he returned from his breakfast to his watch…cave； he saw the
princess already floating about in the lake； attended by the king
and queen whom he knew by their crownsand a great company in
lovely little boats； with canopies of all the colours of the
rainbow； and flags and streamers of a great many more。 It was a
very bright day； and soon the prince； burned up with the heat；
began to long for the cold water and the cool princess。 But he had
to endure till twilight； for the boats had provisions on board； and
it was not till the sun went down that the gay party began to
vanish。 Boat after boat drew away to the shore； following that of
the king and queen； till only one； apparently the princess's own
boat； remained。 But she did not want to go home even yet； and the
prince thought he saw her order the boat to the shore without her。
At all events； it rowed away； and now； of all the radiant company；
only one white speck remained。 Then the prince began to sing。 And
this is what he sung：
〃Lady fair；
Swan…white；
Lift thine eyes；
Banish night
By the might
Of thine eyes。
Snowy arms；
Oars of snow；
Oar her hither；
Plashing low。
Soft and slow；
Oar her hither。
Stream behind her
O'er the lake；
Radiant whiteness！
In her wake
Following； following for her sake。
Radiant whiteness！
Cling about her；
Waters blue；
Part not from her；
But renew
Cold and true
Kisses round her。
Lap me round；
Waters sad；
That have left her。
Make me glad；
For ye had
Kissed her ere ye left her。〃
Before he had finished his song； the princess was just under the
place where he sat； and looking up to find him。 Her ears had led
her truly。
〃Would you like a fall； princess？〃 said the prince； looking down。
〃Ah！ there you are！ Yes； if you please； prince；〃 said the princess；
looking up。
〃How do you know I am a prince； princess？〃 said the prince。
〃Because you are a very nice young man； prince；〃 said the princess。
〃Come up then； princess。〃
〃Fetch me； prince。〃
The prince took off his scarf； then his sword…belt； then his tunic；
and tied them all together； and let them down。 But the line was far
too short。 He unwound his turban； and added it to the rest； when it
was all but long enough； and his purse completed it。 The princess
just managed to lay hold of the knot of money； and was beside him
in a moment。 This rock was much higher than the other； and the
splash and the dive were tremendous。 The princess was in ecstasies
of delight； and their swim was delicious。
Night after night they met； and swam about in the dark clear lake；
where such was the prince's gladness； that （whether the princess's
way of looking at things infected him； or he was actually getting
light…headed） he often fancied that he was swimming in the sky
instead of the lake。 But when he talked about being in heaven； the
princess laughed at him dreadfully。
When the moon came； she brought them fresh pleasure。 Everything
looked strange and new in her light； with an old； withered； yet
unfading newness。 When the moon was nearly full； one of their great
delights was； to dive deep in the water； and then； turning round；
look up through it at the great blot of light close above them；
shimmering and trembling and wavering； spreading and contracting；
seeming to melt away； and again grow solid。 Then they would shoot
up through the blot； and lo！ there was the moon； far off； clear and
steady and cold； and very lovely； at the bottom of a deeper and
bluer lake than theirs； as the princess said。
The prince soon found out that while in the water the princess was
very like other people。 And besides this； she was not so forward in
her questions or pert in her replies at sea as on shore。 Neither
did she laugh so much； and when she did laugh； it was more gently。
She seemed altogether more modest and maidenly in the water than
out of it。
But when the prince； who had really fallen in love when he fell in
the lake； began to talk to her about love； she always turned her
head towards him and laughed。 After a while she began to look
puzzled； as if she were trying to understand what he meant； but
could notrevealing a notion that he meant something。 But as soon
as ever she left the lake； she was so altered； that the prince said
to himself； 〃If I marry her； I see no help for it： we must turn
merman and mermaid； and go out to sea at once。〃
11。 Hiss！
The princess's pleasure in the lake had grown to a passion； and she
could scarcely bear to be out of it for an hour。 Imagine then her
consternation； when； diving with the prince one night； a sudden
suspicion seized her that the lake was not so deep as it used to
be。 The prince could not imagine what had happened。 She shot to the
surface； and； without a word； swam at full speed towards the higher
side of the lake。 He followed； begging to know if she was ill； or
what was the matter。 She never turned her head； or took the
smallest notice of his question。 Arrived at the shore； she coasted
the rocks with minute inspection。 But she was not able to come to
a conclusion； for the moon was very small； and so she could not see