One day , as the princess was standing on a balcony , she saw the most extraordinary figure rise out of the sea . She quickly called Bonnetta to ask her what it could be . It looked like some kind of man , with a bluish face and long sea-green hair . He was swimming towards the tower , but the sharks took no notice of him . ` It must be a merman , ' said Bonnetta . ' A man , do you say ? ' cried Graziella ; ` let us hurry down to the door and see him nearer . ' When they stood in the doorway the merman stopped to look at the princess and made many signs of admiration . His voice was very hoarse and husky , but when he found that he was not understood he took to signs . He carried a little basket made of osiers and filled with rare shells , which he presented to the princess . She took it with signs of thanks ; but as it was getting dusk she retired , and the merman plunged back into the sea . 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 XXXXX his own kind , but of another sex .
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