Atondido Stories
be the last present she would ask he decided that it might be a
good investment after all. He set out to procure the dress with all
possible speed. At last he found one.
When Dionysia saw the dress the colour of the sky and all its
stars she thought that this time there was no escape from marry-
ing the king. She called the sea serpent with an anxious heart for
she was afraid that now even Labismena could do nothing to
help her.
Labismena came out of the sea in answer to her call.
"Go home to the palace and get your dress the colour of the
field and all its flowers," said the sea serpent, "and your dress the
colour of the sea and all its fishes, and your dress the colour of
the sky and all its stars. Then hurry back here to the sea for I
have been preparing a surprise for you."
All the time the king had been procuring the wonderful
gowns for Dionysia the sea serpent had been building a ship for
her. When Dionysia returned from the royal palace with her
lovely dresses all carefully packed in a box there was a queer
little boat awaiting her. It was not at all like any other boat she
had ever seen and she was almost afraid to get into it when La-
bismena asked her to try it. "This little ship which I have built for
you," said Labismena, "will carry you far away over the sea to
the kingdom of a prince who is the most charming prince in all
the world. When you see him you will want to marry him above
all others."
"O, Labismena! How can I ever thank you for all you have
done for me?" cried Dionysia.
"You can do the greatest thing in the world for me," said La-
bismena; "though I have never told you and I do not believe that
you have ever suspected it, I am really an enchanted princess. I
shall have to remain in the form of a sea serpent until the
167