She might have watched the fishes on the roof for hours, had she not remembered it was late and breakfast must be ready.  So she dressed and made her toilet, and swam down into the palace to find Cap’n Bill and the mermaids politely waiting for her to join them.  The sea maidens were as fresh and lovely as ever, while each and all proved sweet tempered and merry, even at the breakfast table—­and that is where people are cross, if they ever are.  During the meal the queen said, “I shall take you this morning to the most interesting part of the ocean, where the largest and most remarkable sea creatures live.  And we must visit King Anko, too, for the sea serpent would feel hurt and slighted if I did not bring my guests to call upon him.”

“That will be nice,” said Trot eagerly.

But Cap’n Bill asked, “Is there any danger, ma’am?”

“I think not,” replied Queen Aquareine.  “I cannot say that you will be exposed to any danger at all, so long as I’m with you.  But we are going into the neighborhood of such fierce and even terrible beings which would attack you at once did they suspect you to be earth people.  So in order to guard your safety, I intend to draw the Magic Circle around both of you before we start.”

“What is the Magic Circle?” asked Trot.

“A fairy charm that prevents any enemy from touching you.  No monster of the sea, however powerful, will be able to reach your body while you are protected by the Magic Circle,” declared the Queen.

“Oh, then I’ll not be a bit afraid,” returned the child with perfect confidence.

“Am I to have the Magic Circle drawn around me, too?” asked Cap’n Bill.

“Of course,” answered Aquareine.  “You will need no other protection than that, yet both Princess Clia and I will both be with you.  For today I shall leave Merla to rule our palaces in my place until we return.”

No sooner was breakfast finished than Trot was anxious to start.  The girl was also curious to discover what the powerful Magic Circle might prove to be, but she was a little disappointed in the ceremony.  The queen merely grasped her fairy wand in her right hand and swam around the child in a circle, from left to right.  Then she took her wand in her left hand and swam around Trot in another circle, from right to left.  “Now, my dear,” said she, “you are safe from any creature we are liable to meet.”

She performed the same ceremony for Cap’n Bill, who was doubtful about the Magic Circle because he felt the same after it as he had before.  But he said nothing of his unbelief, and soon they left the palace and started upon their journey.

THE BASHFUL OCTOPUS

CHAPTER 9

It was a lovely day, and the sea was like azure under the rays of the sun.

Over the flower beds and through the gardens they swam, emerging into the open sea in a direction opposite that taken by the visitors the day before.  The party consisted of but four:  Queen Aquareine, Princess Clia, Trot and Cap’n Bill.