A girl stood before him in midstream$$$ alone and still$$$ gazing out to sea. She seemed like one whom magic had changed into the likeness of a strange and beautiful seabird. Her long slender bare legs were delicate as a crane's and pure save where an emerald trail of seaweed had fashioned itself as a sign upon the flesh. Her thighs$$$ fuller and soft-hued as ivory$$$ were bared almost to the hips$$$ where the white fringes of her drawers were like feathering of soft white down. Her slate-blue skirts were kilted boldly about her waist and dovetailed behind her. Her bosom was as a bird's$$$ soft and slight$$$ slight and soft as the breast of some dark-plumaged dove. But her long fair hair was girlish: and girlish$$$ and touched with the wonder of mortal beauty$$$ her face.