To-day thou sayest that I am fifteen years old, and that I am not any more to be treated as a child.

Mark that! To-day, as heretofore, I ask something of thee which thou canst give me--and thou canst not cheat me, either!" "Whatever it may be, thou shalt have it, Marie." "Thy hand on it! Now, thou knowest that I asked thee not long ago to send to Paris for a 'Melusine costume' for me!" "And has it not already arrived?
I myself delivered the box into thy hands." "Knowest thou what a Melusine costume is?
See, this is it." With these words she sprang from her seat, untied the cord about her waist, flung off the silken wrapper, and stood in front of the speechless young man in one of those costumes worn by Paris dames at the sea-shore when they disport themselves amid the waves of the ocean.

The Melusine costume was a bathing-dress.
"To-day, Ludwig, I ask that thou wilt teach me how to swim.

The lake is just out yonder below the garden." The maid, in her pale-blue bathing-dress, looked like one of those fairy-like creatures in Shakspere's "Midsummer Night's Dream," innocent and alluring, child and siren.
Disconcerted and embarrassed, Ludwig raised his hand.
"Art thou going to strike me ?" inquired the child, half crying, half laughing.
"Pray put on the wrapper again!" said Ludwig, taking the garment from the sofa and with it veiling the model for a Naiad.

"What sort of a caprice is this ?" "I have had the thought in my head for a long, long time, and I beg that thou wilt grant my request.