And while Eva was rubbing her eyes, and trying to think where she could be, and what all this meant, she heard the tea-bell ring, and as that was very easy to understand, she got up and went to the house. She peeped through the window before she went in, and everything seemed right in there. For her mother was just folding up her work,--the baby was crowing and playing with his rattle in the cradle,--strawberries and cream and sponge-cake were on the table; and when Eva came quietly in, and slipped into her seat by her father, he put his hand on her curls, and asked her if she had had a nice time down by the pond the whole afternoon. “Yes, papa,” was all Eva could say, and then she paid very strict attention to her saucer of ripe strawberries covered with cream. Presently her mother said: “My little girl had a nice long nap this afternoon. I called her once, and she only raised her head for a minute, and then down it went again.” Papa laughed. “Strawberries and cream waked her up at last.” And Eva never said a word. * * * * * But to this day she never sees a shooting-star without wondering what has been lost in the moon,--she never sees a toad without thinking it may be a fairy in disguise, and every lily recalls Aster and his flower. For Eva believes in fairies. Why should she not? She knows all about them. She has never told any one,--not even papa, though he never laughs at her; but if Eva should live to be an old woman--and I hope she may!--she will never forget her ADVENTURES IN SHADOW-LAND. THE MERMAN AND THE FIGURE-HEAD. [Illustration] [Illustration: “He gazed at the wooden creature with all his heart in his eyes.” _Frontispiece._ Page 62. ] CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE THE SEA-NYMPH 7 CHAPTER II. THE SEA KINGDOM 28 CHAPTER III. THE FIGURE-HEAD 52 CHAPTER IV. THE BEWITCHED LOVER 74 CHAPTER V. THE SEA-NYMPHS 90 CHAPTER VI. LUCY PEABODY’S DREAM 103 [Illustration] THE MERMAN AND THE FIGURE-HEAD. CHAPTER I. _THE SEA-NYMPH._ “I may be wrong, but I think it a pity For a movable doll to be made so pretty.” _Doll Poems._ “I shall call her the Sea-nymph,” said Master Isaac Torrey. “Umph!” said his clerk, Ichabod Sterns, looking over his spectacles at his master. “And why not The Sea-nymph, pray?” demanded Master Torrey. “Why, I say, should I not call my fine new brig The Sea-nymph if it pleases my fancy?” “Fancy!” said Ichabod Sterns, putting his head on one side. “Fancy! Umph!” Now this was most exasperating conduct on Ichabod’s part, and as such Master Torrey felt it.