The little friends threw their arms about each other , and were so full of their own feelings that they never saw Uncle Fact 's tall shadow flit across them , as he stole away over the soft sand . Poor old gentleman ! he was in a sad state of mind , and did n't know what to do ; for in all his long life he had never been so puzzled before . `` A mermaid indeed ! '' he muttered . `` I always thought that child was a fool , and now I 'm sure of it . She thinks she is a mermaid , and has made Fancy believe it . I 've told my wife a dozen times that she let Fancy read too many fairy tales and wonder-books . Her head is full of nonsense , and she is just ready to believe any ridiculous story that is told her . Now , what on earth shall I do ? If I put Luly in an asylum , Fancy will break her heart , and very likely they will both run away . If I leave them together , Luly will soon make Fancy as crazy as she is herself , and I shall be mortified by having a niece who insists that her playmate is a mermaid . Bless my soul ! how absurd it all is ! '' Aunt Fiction had gone to town to see her publishers about a novel she had written , and he did n't like to tell the queer story to any one else ; so Uncle Fact thought it over , and decided to settle the matter at once . When the children came in , he sent Fancy to wait for him in the library , while he talked alone with Lorelei . He did his best ; but he could do nothing with her , -- she danced and laughed , and told the same tale as before , till the old gentleman confessed that he had heard their talk on the rocks : then she grew very sad , and owned that she was a mermaid . This made him angry , and he would n't believe it for an instant ; but told her it was impossible , and she must say something else . Lorelei could say nothing else , and wept bitterly when he would not listen ; so he locked her up and went to Fancy , who felt as if something dreadful was going to happen when she saw his face . He told her all he knew , and insisted that Lorelei was foolish or naughty to persist in such a ridiculous story .
`` But , uncle , I really did make a mermaid ; and she really did come alive , for I saw the figure float away , and then XXXXX appeared , '' said Fancy , very earnestly .
Lorelei Luly children earth feelings flit library nonsense something wonder-books