"He's come! he's come! Oh, dear King, give me another wish, a better wish, and let me be a little girl again."
"Done!" said the Great Gull, waving his wings over her. "Will you be contented now?"
"I will! I will!" answered Nelly, eagerly.
"Sure you won't want to be a bird, a fish, or a mermaid again?"
"Yes, yes; for nothing is so lovely as to be a child."
"Good!" and suddenly clutching her in his strong claws the gull flew high up in the air as if he were going to take her to his nest and eat her like a fish.
Poor Nelly was sadly frightened; but before she could catch her breath to ask what was to happen, the King said, in a loud voice, "Remember!" and let her drop.
She expected to be dashed on the rocks below, and thought that was to be her punishment, perhaps; but to her great surprise she floated down like a feather, and found herself lying on the sand in her own shape and the very clothes she wore when she went away. She lay a moment enjoying the comfort of being warm and dry, and feeling the dear earth under her.
"Why, darling, how long you have been asleep!" said a voice close by; and starting up Nelly saw her mother stooping over her, while Baby was creeping nearer to laugh and crow as he peeped into her face to see if she was awake.
"Oh, mamma, dear mamma, I am so glad to have you again! I was very naughty, but I've learned a lesson, and I'm going to be your good child now," cried Nelly, holding her mother tight with many kisses.
"Bless the dear! she has been dreaming, and wakes up in a lovely mood," said mamma, laughing.
"Didn't you think I was drowned? How long have I been away?" asked Nelly, looking about her as if bewildered.
"About an hour. I was not troubled, for I knew you would not break your promise, dear."
"Then it _was_ a dream, and I haven't been a mermaid?" said Nelly.
"I hope not; for I like my little girl just as she is. Tell me the dream while I smooth away these tangles before we go home."
So, sitting on her mother's knee, while Baby dug holes in the sand, Nelly told her adventures as well as she could; for now it all seemed dim and far away, and nothing remained clear in her mind but the thought that it was indeed a lovely and a happy thing to be a little child with a heart to feel, a mother to love, and a home to live in till we go to find that other one, fairer than any on the earth or in the sea.