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Sour and Civil.
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some of the largest pearls and diamonds that lay convenient, and said—

“‘Take these as a present from me, to let the west country people see what I can do for my visitors.’

“Civil and the lady took the presents, saying—

“‘Oh, my lord, you are too generous. We want nothing but the pleasure of telling of your marvellous riches up yonder.’

“‘Tell everybody to come down, and they will get the like,’ said the merman; ‘and follow my eldest daughter, for she carries the key of the land gate.’

“Civil and the lady followed the mermaid through a winding gallery, which led from the chief banquet hall far into the marble hill. All was dark, and they had neither lamp nor torch, but at the end of the gallery they came to a great stone gate, which creaked like thunder on its hinges. Beyond that there was a narrow cave, sloping up and up like a steep hill-side. Civil and the lady thought they would never reach the top; but at last they saw a gleam of daylight, then a strip of blue sky, and the mermaid bade them stoop and creep through what seemed a crevice in the ground, and both stood up on the broad sea-beach as the day was breaking and the tide ebbing fast away.

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