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 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 XXXXX 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 . '
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