146 THE HALL OF SHELLS. 
Highness Tethys, written in his fiery youth, 
and full of titles of endearment. Behold this 
one, oft repeated !” he said, pomting to certain 
similar markings more delicately and regularly 
traced than work on Babylonian brick or 
Egyptian obelisk. 
“Tts reading is this: ‘O maiden by my 
heart cherished! The sea halls are desolate. 
The jasper throne awaits thee. O maiden by 
my heart cherished! The singing nymphs 
can not charm me. Stay thy sliding chariot. 
Listen and draw near. O maiden by my heart 
cherished ! Speaks not my heart to thee?’ 
And here,” he said, “is inscribed the name 
with all its titles and the ancient seal of the 
great Oceanus.” 
While assuming to read the olive tablet the 
doctor’s eyes were really reading this later 
maiden’s face, and its blushes pleased him. 
But she lightly answered : 
“J read another story in this delicate cunel- 
form. It is an ocean rune full of mystery and 
tells how the waves learned their motion; how 
the moon draws the crystal tides ; why the sea 
moans ; and this one has a sea song engraven 
on it; and, presto!” she exclaimed, taking 
from the shelf an elegant harp shell (Alarpa 
ventricosa), “ here is the sea nymph’s harp to 
