Then a wonderful thing happened . Her tail dropped away or , rather , it divided and grew into two legs and a pair of the prettiest feet in the world , while her maidens , who were grouped around her , shed their scales and became girls again . They all turned and looked at each other first , and next at the little fish who had regained her own shape and was more beautiful than any of them . ` It is you who have given us back our life ; you , you ! ' they cried ; and fell to weeping from very joy . So they all went back to earth and the queen 's palace , and quite forgot the one that lay under the sea . But they had been so long away that they found many changes . The prince , the queen 's husband , had died some years since , and in his place was her son , who had grown up and was king ! Even in his joy at seeing his mother again an air of sadness clung to him , and at last the queen could bear it no longer , and begged him to walk with her in the garden . Seated together in a bower of jessamine -- where she had passed long hours as a bride -- she took her son 's hand and entreated him to tell her the cause of his sorrow . ` For , ' said she , ` if I can give you happiness you shall have it . ' ` It is no use , ' answered the prince ; ` nobody can help me . I must bear it alone . ' ` But at least let me share your grief , ' urged the queen . ` No one can do that , ' said he . ' I have fallen in love with what I can never marry , and I must get on as best I can . ' ` It may not be as impossible as you think , ' answered the queen . ` At any rate , tell me . ' There was silence between them for a moment , then , turning away his head , the prince answered gently : ' I have fallen in love with a beautiful deer ! ' ` Ah , if that is all , ' exclaimed the queen joyfully .
And she told him in broken words that , XXXXX he had guessed , it was no deer but an enchanted maiden who had won back the crown and brought her home to her own people .
So around as at between if in than under while