In the far, deep ocean, there was the castle of Sea King. He had been alone for many years. His mother helped him. She was a wise woman, especially for her care of her grand-daughters. They were six beautiful children, but the youngest was the prettiest of them all. Like her sisters, her feet were a fish’s tail.

　　especially adv. 特别, 尤其

　　care n. 照顾

　　The little mermaid was interested in listening to the wonderful stories about the land from her grandmother. “When you are fifteen,” said her grandmother, “you will have permission to rise up out of the sea.” Her five elder sisters had already been there. She wished her birthday could come sooner.

　　mermaid n. 美人鱼

　　permission n. 许可, 允许

　　At last she reached her fifteenth year. She rose as lightly as a bubble to the surface of the water. The sea was calm, and a large ship lay on the water. There was music and song on board. The little mermaid swam close to the ship.

　　bubble n. 泡沫

　　surface n. 表面

　　calm adj. (海洋) 平静的

　　on board 在船上

　　She saw a number of well-dressed people. They were celebrating the prince’s sixteenth birthday. How handsome the young prince looked! The little mermaid could not take her eyes from him.

　　well-dressed adj. 穿着考究的

　　celebrate v. 庆祝

　　handsome adj. 英俊的

　　Suddenly, the sea became restless, and a dreadful storm was coming. The ship was torn into pieces. The prince sank into the deep waves. The little mermaid remembered that humans could not live in the water, so she swam toward the prince and saved him. They floated together with the waves.

　　restless adj. 不平静的

　　dreadful adj. 可怕的

　　tear v. 使分裂

　　sink into 沉入

　　float v. 漂浮

　　The next morning the storm had stopped. The little mermaid laid the prince on the beach. She kissed him, and then hid herself behind some rocks. She saw a young girl come to him, and try to wake him up. He came to life again, and smiled upon the girl. But he sent no smile to the mermaid. He didn’t know that she had saved his life.

　　come to life 苏醒

　　smile upon 向......微笑

　　This made her very unhappy. When he was led away into the palace, she dived sadly into the water, and returned to her father’s castle. Her sisters asked her what she had seen during her first visit to the surface of the water, but she told them nothing. She became silent and thoughtful.

　　dive v. 潜水, 下潜

　　thoughtful adj. 沉思的