The other children did n't care much about her ; for with them she was shy and cold , because she knew , if the truth was told , they would not believe in her . Fancy had always played a good deal by herself , because she never found a mate to suit her ; now she had one , and they enjoyed each other very much . Lorelei taught her many things besides new games ; and Aunt Fiction was charmed with the pretty stories Fancy repeated to her , while Uncle Fact was astonished at the knowledge of marine plants and animals which she gained without any books . Lorelei taught her to swim , like a fish ; and the two played such wonderful pranks in the water that people used to come down to the beach when they bathed . In return , Fancy tried to teach her friend to read and write and sew ; but Lorelei could n't learn much , though she loved her little teacher dearly , and every evening sung her to sleep with beautiful lullabies . There was a great deal of talk about the curious stranger ; for her ways were odd , and no one knew what to make of her . She would eat nothing but fruit and shell-fish , and drink nothing but salt water . She did n't like tight clothes ; but would have run about in a loose , green robe , with bare feet and flying hair , if Uncle Fact would have allowed it . Morning , noon , and night , she plunged into the sea , -- no matter what the weather might be ; and she would sleep on no bed but one stuffed with dried sea-weed . She made lovely chains of shells ; found splendid bits of coral ; and dived where no one else dared , to bring up wonderful plants and mosses . People offered money for these things ; but she gave them all to Fancy and Aunt Fiction , of whom she was very fond . It was curious to see the sort of people who liked both Fancy and her friend , -- poets , artists ; delicate , thoughtful children ; and a few old people , who had kept their hearts young in spite of care and time and trouble . Dashing young gentlemen , fine young ladies , worldly-minded and money-loving men and women , and artificial , unchildlike children , the two friends avoided carefully ; and these persons either made fun of them , neglected them entirely , or seemed to be unconscious that they were alive . The others they knew at a glance ; for their faces warmed and brightened when the children came , they listened to their songs and stories , joined in their plays , and found rest and refreshment in their sweet society . `` This will do for a time ; as Fancy is getting strong , and not entirely wasting her days , thanks to me ! But our holiday is nearly over ; and , as soon as I get back to town , I 'll take that child to the Ragged Refuge , and see what they can make of her , '' said Uncle Fact , who was never quite satisfied about Lorelei ; because he could find out so little concerning her . He was walking over the beach as he said this , after a hard day 's work on his encyclopædia . He sat down on a rock in a quiet place ; and , instead of enjoying the lovely sunset , he fell to studying the course of the clouds , the state of the tide , and the temperature of the air , till the sound of voices made him peep over the rock . Fancy and her friend were playing there , and the old gentleman waited to see what they were about . Both were sitting with their little bare feet in the water ; Lorelei was stringing pearls , and Fancy plaiting a crown of pretty green rushes .
`` I wish I could go home , and get you a string of finer pearls than these , '' said XXXXX ; `` but it is too far away , and I can not swim now as I used to do . ''
Lorelei day days encyclopædia evening lullabies mosses night noon sea-weed