And she could do nothing ; for although the king loved her , he never let her stand in the way of his plans . The poor princess was only too right , and everything came to pass exactly as she had foreseen it . The king told her that the Red Knight had won her fairly , and that the wedding would take place next day , and there would be a great feast after it . In those days feasts were much longer and more splendid than they are now ; and it was growing dark when the princess , tired out with all she had gone through , stole up to her own room for a little quiet . But the moon was shining so brightly over the sea that it seemed to draw her towards it , and taking her violin under her arm , she crept down to the shore . ` Listen ! listen ! said the mermaid to the prince , who was lying stretched on a bed of seaweeds at the bottom of the sea . ` Listen ! that is your old love playing , for mermaids know everything that happens upon earth . ' ' I hear nothing , ' answered the youth , who did not look happy . ` Take me up higher , where the sounds can reach me . ' So the mermaid took him on her shoulders and bore him up midway to the surface . ` Can you hear now ? ' she asked . ` No , ' answered the prince , ' I hear nothing but the water rushing ; I must go higher still . ' Then the mermaid carried him to the very top . ` You must surely be able to hear now ? ' said she . ` Nothing but the water , ' repeated the youth .
XXXXX she took him right to the land .
In So after as on over than that towards under