stay, uncle?" she said, forgetting that, if she lost her faith, her friend was lost also.
"Ah! then you have begun to come to your senses, have you? and are ready to own that you don't believe in mermaids and such rubbish?" cried Uncle Fact, stopping in his tramp up and down the room.
"Why, if you say there never were and never can be any, I suppose I must give up my fancy; but I'm sorry," sighed the child.
"That's my sensible girl! Now, think a minute, my dear, and you will also own that it is best to give up the child as well as the mermaid," said her uncle briskly.
"Oh! no: we love one another; and she is good, and I can't give her up," cried Fancy.
"Answer me a few questions; and I'll prove that she isn't good, that you don't love her, and that you can give her up," said Uncle Fact, and numbered off the questions on his fingers as he spoke.
"Didn't Luly want you to deceive us, and every one else, about who she was?"
"Yes, sir."
"Don't you like to be with her better than with your aunt or myself?"
"Yes, sir."
"Hadn't you rather hear her songs and stories than learn your lessons?"
"Yes, sir."
"Isn't it wrong to deceive people, to love strangers more than those who are a father and mother to you, and to like silly tales better than useful lessons?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well. Then, don't you see, that, if Luly makes
