Marco is really excited.

How many wonders, how many beautiful things!

"But can't you do anything to save Venice?" he asks his friends who live under the sea.

"No, there's nothing more we can do down here," the children answer, "but you, Marco — you who live up there — you must tell people to come and help us, you must tell people not to wait. We have been waiting so long for you to come and save us!"

Marco is deeply moved, and promises that he will help them. And the children give him a pretty round bowl with two little goldfish swimming at the bottom. Marco and the little mermaid float slowly upward; the children and the fish follow them for a little way. Then Marco finds himself back in his bedroom.

"Goodbye, goodbye!" says the little mermaid. "One day we will meet again!"