. The sea fairies . ? We have no need of fires, was the reply. The glassroof of our kitchen is so curved that it concentrates the heatof the suns rays, which are then hot enough to cook anythingwe wish. But how do you get along if the day is cloudy, and thesun does nt shine? inquired the little girl. Then we use the hot springs that bubble up in anotherpart of the palace, Merla answered. But the sun is thebest to cook by. So, it was no surprise to Trot when, about noon, dinnerwas announced and all the mermaids, headed by their queenand their guests, swam into another spacious room where agreat
. The sea fairies . ? We have no need of fires, was the reply. The glassroof of our kitchen is so curved that it concentrates the heatof the suns rays, which are then hot enough to cook anythingwe wish. But how do you get along if the day is cloudy, and thesun does nt shine? inquired the little girl. Then we use the hot springs that bubble up in anotherpart of the palace, Merla answered. But the sun is thebest to cook by. So, it was no surprise to Trot when, about noon, dinnerwas announced and all the mermaids, headed by their queenand their guests, swam into another spacious room where agreat, long table was laid. The dishes were of polished goldand dainty cut glass, and the cloth and napkins of fine gossa- Chapter Six mer. Around the table were ranged rows of couches for themermaids to recline upon as they ate. Only the nobility andfavorites of Queen Aquareine were invited to partake of thisrepast, for Clia explained that tables were set for the othermermaids in different parts of the numerous Trot wondered who would serve the meal, but her curi-osity was soon satisfied when several large lobsters came slid-ing into the room, backward, bearing in their claws traysloaded with food. Each of these lobsters had a golden bandaround its neck to show it was the slave of the mermaids. These curious waiters were fussy creatures and Trot found 65 The Sea Fairies much amusement in watching their odd motions. They wereso spry and excitable that, at times, they ran against one an-other and upset the platters of food, after which they beganto scold and argue as to whose fault it was, until one of themermaids quietly rebuked them and asked them to be morequiet and more careful. The queens guests had no cause to complain of the dinnerprovided. First the lobsters served bowls of turtle soup,which proved hot and deliciously flavored. Then came sal-mon steaks fried in nsh oil, with a fungus bread that tastedmuch like field mushrooms. Oysters, clams, soft-shell crabsand var
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