[FromCuentosPopularsCatalans,porloDr。D。FranciscodeS。
　　MasponsyLabros。]
　　TheOwlandtheEagleOnceuponatime,inasavagecountrywherethesnowliesdeepformanymonthsintheyear,therelivedanowlandaneagle。Thoughtheyweresodifferentinmanywaystheybecamegreatfriends,andatlengthsetuphousetogether,onepassingthedayinhuntingandtheotherthenight。Inthismannertheydidnotseeverymuchofeachother——andperhapsagreedallthebetterforthat;butatanyratetheywereperfectlyhappy,andonlywantedonething,or,rather,twothings,andthatwasawifeforeach。
　　'IreallyamtootiredwhenIcomehomeintheeveningtocleanupthehouse,'saidtheeagle。
　　'AndIammuchtoosleepyatdawnafteralongnight'shuntingtobegintosweepanddust,'answeredtheowl。Andtheybothmadeuptheirmindsthatwivestheymusthave。
　　Theyflewaboutintheirsparemomentstotheyoungladiesoftheiracquaintance,butthegirlsalldeclaredtheypreferredonehusbandtotwo。Thepoorbirdsbegantodespair,when,oneevening,aftertheyhadbeenforawonderhuntingtogether,theyfoundtwosistersfastasleepontheirtwobeds。Theeaglelookedattheowlandtheowllookedattheeagle。
　　'Theywillmakecapitalwivesiftheywillonlystaywithus,'saidthey。Andtheyflewofftogivethemselvesawash,andtomakethemselvessmartbeforethegirlsawoke。
　　Formanyhoursthesistersslepton,fortheyhadcomealongway,fromatownwheretherewasscarcelyanythingtoeat,andfeltweakandtired。Butby—and—bytheyopenedtheireyesandsawthetwobirdswatchingthem。
　　'Ihopeyouarerested？'askedtheowlpolitely。
　　'Oh,yes,thankyou,'answeredthegirls。'Onlywearesoveryhungry。
　　Doyouthinkwecouldhavesomethingtoeat？'
　　'Certainly！'repliedtheeagle。Andheflewawaytoafarmhouseamileortwooff,andbroughtbackanestofeggsinhisstrongbeak;whiletheowl,catchingupatinpot,wenttoacottagewherelivedanoldwomanandhercow,andenteringtheshedbythewindowdippedthepotintothepailofnewmilkthatstoodthere。
　　Thegirlsweresomuchdelightedwiththekindnessandclevernessoftheirhoststhat,whenthebirdsinquirediftheywouldmarrythemandstaythereforever,theyacceptedwithoutsomuchasgivingitasecondthought。Sotheeagletooktheyoungersistertowife,andtheowltheelder,andneverwasahomemorepeacefulthantheirs！
　　Allwentwellforseveralmonths,andthentheeagle'swifehadason,while,onthesameday,theowl'swifegavebirthtoafrog,whichsheplaceddirectlyonthebanksofastreamnearby,ashedidnotseemtolikethehouse。Thechildrenbothgrewquickly,andwerenevertiredofplayingtogether,orwantedanyothercompanions。
　　Onenightinthespring,whentheicehadmelted,andthesnowwasgone,thesisterssatspinninginthehouse,awaitingtheirhusbands'
　　return。Butlongthoughtheywatched,neithertheowlnortheeagleevercame;neitherthatdaynorthenext,northenext,northenext。
　　Atlastthewivesgaveupallhopeoftheirreturn;but,beingsensiblewomen,theydidnotsitdownandcry,butcalledtheirchildren,andsetout,determinedtoseekthewholeworldovertillthemissinghusbandswerefound。
　　Nowthewomenhadnoideainwhichdirectionthelostbirdshadgone,buttheyknewthatsomedistanceoffwasathickforest,wheregoodhuntingwastobefound。Itseemedalikelyplacetofindthem,or,atanyrate,theymighthearsomethingofthem,andtheywalkedquicklyon,cheeredbythethoughtthattheyweredoingsomething。Suddenlytheyoungersister,whowasalittleinfront,gaveacryofsurprise。
　　'Oh！lookatthatlake！'shesaid,'weshallnevergetacrossit。'
　　'Yesweshall,'answeredtheelder;'Iknowwhattodo。'Andtakingalongpieceofstringfromherpocket,fasteneditintothefrog'smouth,likeabit。
　　'Youmustswimacrossthelake,'shesaid,stoopingtoputhimin,'andwewillwalkacrossonthelinebehindyou。'Andsotheydid,tilltheygottoaboutthemiddleofthelake,whenthefrogboystopped。
　　'Idon'tlikeit,andIwon'tgoanyfurther,'criedhesulkily。Andhismotherhadtopromisehimallsortsofnicethingsbeforehewouldgoonagain。
　　Whenatlasttheyreachedtheotherside,theowl'swifeuntiedthelinefromthefrog'smouthandtoldhimhemightrestandplaybythelaketilltheygotbackfromtheforest。Thensheandhersisterandtheboywalkedon,withthegreatforestloomingbeforethem。Buttheyhadbythistimecomefarandwereverytired,andfeltgladenoughtoseesomesmokecurlingupfromalittlehutinfrontofthem。
　　'Letusgoinandaskforsomewater,'saidtheeagle'swife;andintheywent。
　　Theinsideofthehutwassodarkthatatfirsttheycouldseenothingatall;butpresentlytheyheardafeeblecroakfromonecorner。Butsistersturnedtolook,andthere,tiedbywingsandfeet,andtheireyessunken,werethehusbandsthattheysought。Quickaslightningthewivescutthedeer—thongswhichboundthem;butthepoorbirdsweretooweakfrompainandstarvationtodomorethanuttersoftsoundsofjoy。Hardly,however,weretheysetfree,thanavoiceofthundermadethetwosistersjump,whilethelittleboyclungtightlyroundhismother'sneck。
　　'Whatareyoudoinginmyhouse？'criedshe。Andthewivesansweredboldlythatnowtheyhadfoundtheirhusbandstheymeanttosavethemfromsuchawickedwitch。
　　'Well,Iwillgiveyouyourchance,'answeredtheogress,withahideousgrin;'wewillseeifyoucanslidedownthismountain。Ifyoucanreachthebottomofthecavern,youshallhaveyourhusbandsbackagain。'Andasshespokeshepushedthembeforeheroutofthedoortotheedgeofaprecipice,whichwentstraightdownseveralhundredsoffeet。Unseenbythewitch,thefrog'smotherfastenedoneendofthemagiclineabouther,andwhisperedtothelittleboytoholdfasttheother。Shehadscarcelydonesowhenthewitchturnedround。
　　'Youdon'tseemtolikeyourbargain,'saidshe;butthegirlanswered:
　　'Oh,yes,Iamquiteready。Iwasonlywaitingforyou！'Andsittingdownshebeganherslide。On,on,shewent,downtosuchadepththateventhewitch'seyescouldnotfollowher;butshetookforgrantedthatthewomanwasdead,andtoldthesistertotakeherplace。Atthatinstant,however,theheadoftheelderappearedabovetherock,broughtupwardsbythemagicline。Thewitchgaveahowlofdisgust,andhidherfaceinherhands;thusgivingtheyoungersistertimetofastenthecordtoherwaistbeforetheogresslookedup。
　　'Youcan'texpectsuchlucktwice,'shesaid;andthegirlsatdownandslidovertheedge。Butinafewminutesshetoowasbackagain,andthewitchsawthatshehadfailed,andfearedlestherpowerwasgoing。
　　Tremblingwithragethoughshewas,shedarednotshowit,andonlylaughedhideously。
　　'Isha'n'tletmyprisonersgoaseasilyasallthat！'shesaid。'Makemyhairgrowasthickandasblackasyours,orelseyourhusbandsshallneverseedaylightagain。'
　　'Thatisquitesimple,'repliedtheeldersister;'onlyyoumustdoaswedid——andperhapsyouwon'tlikethetreatment。'
　　'Ifyoucanbearit,ofcourseIcan,'answeredthewitch。Andsothegirlstoldhertheyhadfirstsmearedtheirheadswithpitchandthenlaidhotstonesuponthem。
　　'Itisverypainful,'saidthey,'butthereisnootherwaythatweknowof。Andinordertomakesurethatallwillgoright,oneofuswillholdyoudownwhiletheotherpoursonthepitch。'
　　Andsotheydid;andtheeldersisterletdownherhairtillithungoverthewitch'seyes,sothatshemightbelieveitwasherownhairgrowing。Thentheotherbroughtahugestone,and,inshort,therewasanendofthewitch。Thesistersweresavageswhohadneverseenamissionary。
　　Sowhenthesisterssawthatshewasdeadtheywenttothehut,andnursedtheirhusbandstilltheygrewstrong。Thentheypickedupthefrog,andallwenttomakeanotherhomeontheothersideofthegreatlake。
　　[FromtheJournaloftheAnthropologicalInstitute。]
　　TheFrogandtheLionFairyOnceuponatimetherelivedakingwhowasalwaysatwarwithhisneighbours,whichwasverystrange,ashewasagoodandkindman,quitecontentwithhisowncountry,andnotwantingtoseizelandbelongingtootherpeople。Perhapshemayhavetriedtoomuchtopleaseeverybody,andthatoftenendsinpleasingnobody;but,atanyrate,hefoundhimself,attheendofahardstruggle,defeatedinbattle,andobligedtofallbackbehindthewallsofhiscapitalcity。
　　Oncethere,hebegantomakepreparationsforalongsiege,andthefirstthinghedidwastoplanhowbesttosendhiswifetoaplaceofsecurity。
　　Thequeen,wholovedherhusbanddearly,wouldgladlyhaveremainedwithhimtosharehisdangers,buthewouldnotallowit。Sotheyparted,withmanytears,andthequeensetoutwithastrongguardtoafortifiedcastleontheoutskirtsofagreatforest,sometwohundredmilesdistant。Shecriednearlyalltheway,andwhenshearrivedshecriedstillmore,foreverythinginthecastlewasdustyandold,andoutsidetherewasonlyagravelledcourtyard,andthekinghadforbiddenhertogobeyondthewallswithoutatleasttwosoldierstotakecareofher。
　　Nowthequeenhadonlybeenmarriedafewmonths,andinherownhomeshehadbeenusedtowalkandridealloverthehillswithoutanyattendantsatall;soshefeltverydullatherbeingshutupinthisway。However,sheboreitforalongwhilebecauseitwastheking'swish,butwhentimepassedandtherewerenosignsofthewardriftinginthedirectionofthecastle,shegrewbolder,andsometimesstrayedoutsidethewalls,inthedirectionoftheforest。
　　Thencameadreadfulperiod,whennewsfromthekingceasedentirely。
　　'Hemustsurelybeillordead,'thoughtthepoorgirl,whoevennowwasonlysixteen。'Icanbearitnolonger,andifIdonotgetaletterfromhimsoonIshallleavethishorribleplaceandgobacktoseewhatisthematter。Oh！IdowishIhadnevercomeaway！'
　　So,withouttellinganyonewhatsheintendedtodo,sheorderedalittlelowcarriagetobebuilt,somethinglikeasledge,onlyitwasontwowheels——justbigenoughtoholdoneperson。
　　'Iamtiredofbeingalwaysinthecastle,'shesaidtoherattendants;
　　'andImeantohuntalittle。Quitecloseby,ofcourse,'sheadded,seeingtheanxiouslookontheirfaces。'Andthereisnoreasonthatyoushouldnothunttoo。'
　　Allthefacesbrightenedatthat,for,totellthetruth,theywerenearlyasdullastheirmistress;sothequeenhadherway,andtwobeautifulhorseswerebroughtfromthestabletodrawthelittlechariot。Atfirstthequeentookcaretokeepneartherestofthehunt,butgraduallyshestayedawaylongerandlonger,andatlast,onemorning,shetookadvantageoftheappearanceofawildboar,afterwhichherwholecourtinstantlygalloped,toturnintoapathintheoppositedirection。
　　Unluckily,itdidnothappentoleadtowardstheking'spalace,wheresheintendedtogo,butshewassoafraidherflightwouldbenoticedthatshewhippedupherhorsestilltheyranaway。
　　Whensheunderstoodwhatwashappeningthepooryoungqueenwasterriblyfrightened,and,droppingthereins,clungtothesideofthechariot。Thehorses,thusleftwithoutanycontrol,dashedblindlyagainstatree,andthequeenwasflungoutontheground,whereshelayforsomeminutesunconscious。
　　Arustlingsoundnearheratlengthcausedhertoopenhereyes;beforeherstoodahugewoman,almostagiantess,withoutanyclothessavealion'sskin,whichwasthrownoverhershoulders,whileadriedsnake'sskinwasplaitedintoherhair。Inonehandsheheldaclubonwhichsheleaned,andintheotheraquiverfullofarrows。
　　Atthesightofthisstrangefigurethequeenthoughtshemustbedead,andgazingonaninhabitantofanotherworld。Soshemurmuredsoftlytoherself:
　　'Iamnotsurprisedthatpeoplearesolothtodiewhentheyknowthattheywillseesuchhorriblecreatures。'But,lowasshespoke,thegiantesscaughtthewords,andbegantolaugh。
　　'Oh,don'tbeafraid;youarestillalive,andperhaps,afterall,youmaybesorryforit。IamtheLionFairy,andyouaregoingtospendtherestofyourdayswithmeinmypalace,whichisquitenearthis。
　　Socomealong。'Butthequeenshrankbackinhorror。
　　'Oh,MadamLion,takemeback,Iprayyou,tomycastle;andfixwhatransomyoulike,formyhusbandwillpayit,whateveritis。Butthegiantessshookherhead。
　　'Iamrichenoughalready,'sheanswered,'butIamoftendull,andI
　　thinkyoumayamusemealittle。'And,sosaying,shechangedhershapeintothatofalion,andthrowingthequeenacrossherback,shewentdownthetenthousandstepsthatledtoherpalace。Thelionhadreachedthecentreoftheearthbeforeshestoppedinfrontofahouse,lightedwithlamps,andbuiltontheedgeofalakeofquicksilver。Inthislakevarioushugemonstersmightbeseenplayingorfighting——thequeendidnotknowwhich——andaroundflewrooksandravens,utteringdismalcroaks。Inthedistancewasamountaindownwhosesideswatersslowlycoursed——thesewerethetearsofunhappylovers——andnearerthegateweretreeswithouteitherfruitofflowers,whilenettlesandbramblescoveredtheground。Ifthecastlehadbeengloomy,whatdidthequeenfeelaboutthis？
　　Forsomedaysthequeenwassomuchshakenbyallshehadgonethroughthatshelaywithhereyesclosed,unableeithertomoveorspeak。
　　Whenshegotbetter,theLionFairytoldherthatifshelikedshecouldbuildherselfacabin,asshewouldhavetospendherlifeinthatplace。Atthesewordsthequeenburstintotears,andimploredhergaolertoputhertodeathratherthancondemnhertosuchalife;
　　buttheLionFairyonlylaughed,andcounselledhertotrytomakeherselfpleasant,asmanyworsethingsmightbefallher。
　　'IstherenowayinwhichIcantouchyourheart？'askedthepoorgirlindespair。
　　'Well,ifyoureallywishtopleasemeyouwillmakemeapastyoutofthestingsofbees,andbesureitisgood。'
　　'ButIdon'tseeanybees,'answeredthequeen,lookinground。
　　'Oh,no,therearen'tany,'repliedhertormentor;'butyouwillhavetofindthemallthesame。'And,sosaying,shewentaway。
　　'Afterall,whatdoesitmatter？'thoughtthequeentoherself,'Ihaveonlyonelife,andIcanbutloseit。'Andnotcaringwhatshedid,sheleftthepalaceandseatingherselfunderayewtree,pouredoutallhergrief。
　　'Oh,mydearhusband,'weptshe,'whatwillyouthinkwhenyoucometothecastletofetchmeandfindmegone？RatherathousandtimesthatyoushouldfancymedeadthanimaginethatIhadforgottenyou！Ah,howfortunatethatthebrokenchariotshouldbelyinginthewood,forthenyoumaygrieveformeasonedevouredbywildbeasts。Andifanothershouldtakemyplaceinyourheart——Well,atleastIshallneverknowit。'
　　Shemighthavecontinuedforlonginthisfashionhadnotthevoiceofacrowdirectlyoverheadattractedherattention。Lookinguptoseewhatwasthemattershebeheld,inthedimlight,acrowholdingafatfroginhisclaws,whichheevidentlyintendedforhissupper。Thequeenrosehastilyfromtheseat,andstrikingthebirdsharplyontheclawswiththefanwhichhungfromherside,sheforcedhimtodropthefrog,whichfelltotheroundmoredeadthanalive。Thecrow,furiousathisdisappointment,flewangrilyaway。
　　Assoonasthefroghadrecoveredhersensesshehoppeduptothequeen,whowasstillsittingundertheyew。Standingonherhindlegs,andbowinglowbeforeher,shesaidgently:
　　'Beautifullady,bywhatmischancedoyoucomehere？YouaretheonlycreaturethatIhaveseendoakinddeedsinceafatalcuriosityluredmetothisplace。'
　　'Whatsortofafrogcanyoubethatknowsthelanguageofmortals？'
　　askedthequeeninherturn。'Butifyoudo,tellme,Ipray,ifI
　　aloneamacaptive,forhithertoIhavebeheldnoonebutthemonstersofthelake。'
　　'Onceuponatimetheyweremenandwomenlikeyourself,'answeredthefrog,'buthavingpowerintheirhands,theyuseditfortheirownpleasure。Thereforefatehassentthemhereforawhiletobearthepunishmentoftheirmisdoings。'
　　'Butyou,friendfrog,youarenotoneofthesewickedpeople,Iamsure？'askedthequeen。
　　'Iamhalfafairy,'repliedthefrog;'but,althoughIhavecertainmagicgifts,IamnotabletodoallIwish。AndiftheLionFairyweretoknowofmypresenceinherkingdomshewouldhastentokillme。'
　　'Butifyouareafairy,howwasitthatyouweresonearlyslainbythecrow？'saidthequeen,wrinklingherforehead。
　　'Becausethesecretofmypowerliesinmylittlecapthatismadeofroseleaves;butIhadlaiditasideforthemoment,whenthathorriblecrowpounceduponme。OnceitisonmyheadIfearnothing。Butletmerepeat;haditnotbeenforyouIcouldnothaveescapeddeath,andifIcandoanythingtohelpyou,orsoftenyourhardfate,youhaveonlytotellme。'
　　'Alas,'sighedthequeen,'IhavebeencommandedbytheLionFairytomakeherapastyoutofthestingsofbees,and,asfarasIcandiscover,therearenonehere;ashowshouldtherebe,seeingtherearenoflowersforthemtofeedon？And,eveniftherewere,howcouldI
　　catchthem？'
　　'Leaveittome,'saidthefrog,'Iwillmanageitforyou。'And,utteringastrangenoise,shestruckthegroundthricewithherfoot。
　　Inaninstantsixthousandfrogsappearedbeforeher,oneofthembearingalittlecap。
　　'Coveryourselveswithhoney,andhoproundbythebeehives,'commandedthefrog,puttingonthecapwhichherfriendwasholdinginhermouth。
　　Andturningtothequeen,headded:
　　'TheLionFairykeepsastoreofbeesinasecretplaceneartothebottomofthetenthousandstepsleadingintotheupperworld。Notthatshewantsthemforherself,buttheyaresometimesusefultoherinpunishinghervictims。However,thistimewewillgetthebetterofher。'
　　Justasshehadfinishedspeakingthesixthousandfrogsreturned,lookingsostrangewithbeesstickingtoeverypartofthemthat,sadasshefelt,thepoorqueencouldnothelplaughing。Thebeeswereallsostupefiedwithwhattheyhadeatenthatitwaspossibletodrawtheirstingswithouthuntingthem。So,withthehelpofherfriend,thequeensoonmadereadyherpastyandcarriedittotheLionFairy。
　　'Notenoughpepper,'saidthegiantess,gulpingdownlargemorsels,inorderthehidethesurpriseshefelt。'Well,youhaveescapedthistime,andIamgladtofindIhavegotacompanionalittlemoreintelligentthantheothersIhavetried。Now,youhadbettergoandbuildyourselfahouse。'
　　Sothequeenwanderedaway,andpickingupasmallaxewhichlaynearthedoorshebeganwiththehelpofherfriendthefrogtocutdownsomecypresstreesforthepurpose。Andnotcontentwiththatthesixthousandfroggyservantsweretoldtohelpalso,anditwasnotlongbeforetheyhadbuilttheprettiestlittlecabinintheworld,andmadeabedinonecornerofdriedfernswhichtheyfetchedfromthetopofthetenthousandsteps。Itlookedsoftandcomfortable,andthequeenwasverygladtoliedownuponit,sotiredwasshewithallthathadhappenedsincethemorning。Scarcely,however,hadshefallenasleepwhenthelakemonstersbegantomakethemosthorriblenoisesjustoutside,whileasmalldragoncreptinandterrifiedhersothatsheranaway,whichwasjustwhatthedragonwanted！
　　Thepoorqueencrouchedunderarockfortherestofthenight,andthenextmorning,whenshewokefromhertroubleddreams,shewascheeredatseeingthefrogwatchingbyher。
　　'Ihearweshallhavetobuildyouanotherpalace,'saidshe。'Well,thistimewewon'tgosonearthelake。'Andshesmiledwithherfunnywidemouth,tillthequeentookheart,andtheywenttogethertofindwoodforthenewcabin。
　　Thetinypalacewassoonready,andafreshbedmadeofwildthyme,whichsmeltdelicious。Neitherthequeennorthefrogsaidanythingaboutit,butsomehow,asalwayshappens,thestorycametotheearsoftheLionFairy,andshesentaraventofetchtheculprit。
　　'Whatgodsormenareprotectingyou？'sheasked,withafrown。'Thisearth,driedupbyaconstantrainofsulphurandfire,producesnothing,yetIhearthatYOURbedismadeofsweetsmellingherbs。
　　However,asyoucangetflowersforyourself,ofcourseyoucangetthemforme,andinanhour'stimeImusthaveinmyroomanosegayoftherarestflowers。Ifnot——！Nowyoucango。'
　　Thepoorqueenreturnedtoherhouselookingsosadthatthefrog,whowaswaitingforher,noticeditdirectly。
　　'Whatisthematter？'saidshe,smiling。
　　'Oh,howcanyoulaugh！'repliedthequeen。'ThistimeIhavetobringherinanhouraposyoftherarestflowers,andwhereamItofindthem？IfIfailIknowshewillkillme。'
　　'Well,ImustseeifIcan'thelpyou,'answeredthefrog。'TheonlypersonIhavemadefriendswithhereisabat。Sheisagoodcreature,andalwaysdoeswhatItellher,soIwilljustlendhermycap,andifsheputsiton,andfliesintotheworld,shewillbringbackallwewant。Iwouldgomyself,onlyshewillbequicker。'
　　Thenthequeendriedhereyes,andwaitedpatiently,andlongbeforethehourhadgonebythebatflewinwithallthemostbeautifulandsweetestflowersthatgrewontheearth。Thegirlsprangupoverjoyedatthesight,andhurriedwiththemtotheLionFairy,whowassoastonishedthatforonceshehadnothingtosay。
　　Nowthesmellandtouchoftheflowershadmadethequeensickwithlongingforherhome,andshetoldthefrogthatshewouldcertainlydieifshedidnotmanagetoescapesomehow。
　　'Letmeconsultmycap,'saidthefrog;andtakingitoffshelaiditinabox,andthrewinafteritafewsprigsofjuniper,somecapers,andtwopeas,whichshecarriedunderherrightleg;shethenshutdownthelidofthebox,andmurmuredsomewordswhichthequeendidnotcatch。
　　Inafewmomentsavoicewasheardspeakingfromthebox。
　　'Fate,whorulesusall,'saidthevoice,'forbidsyourleavingthisplacetillthetimeshallcomewhencertainthingsarefulfilled。But,instead,agiftshallbegivenyou,whichwillcomfortyouinallyourtroubles。'
　　Andthevoicespoketruly,for,afewdaysafter,whenthefrogpeepedinatthedoorshefoundthemostbeautifulbabyintheworldlyingbythesideofthequeen。
　　'Sothecaphaskeptitsword,'criedthefrogwithdelight。'Howsoftitscheeksare,andwhattinyfeetithasgot！Whatshallwecallit？'
　　Thiswasaveryimportantpoint,andneededmuchdiscussion。A
　　thousandnameswereproposedandrejectedforathousandsillyreasons。
　　Onewastoolong,andonewastooshort。Onewastooharsh,andanotherremindedthequeenofsomebodyshedidnotlike;butatlengthanideaflashedintothequeen'shead,andshecalledout:
　　'Iknow！WewillcallherMuffette。'
　　'Thatistheverything,'shoutedthefrog,jumpinghighintotheair;
　　andsoitwassettled。
　　TheprincessMuffettewasaboutsixmonthsoldwhenthefrognoticedthatthequeenhadbeguntogrowsadagain。
　　'Whydoyouhavethatlookinyoureyes？'sheaskedoneday,whenshehadcomeintoplaywiththebaby,whocouldnowcrawl。
　　ThewaytheyplayedtheirgamewastoletMuffettecreepclosetothefrog,andthenforthefrogtoboundhighintotheairandalightonthechild'shead,orback,orlegs,whenshealwayssentupashoutofpleasure。Thereisnoplayfellowlikeafrog;butthenitmustbeafairyfrog,orelseyoumighthurtit,andifyoudidsomethingdreadfulmighthappentoyou。Well,asIhavesaid,ourfrogwasstruckwiththequeen'ssadface,andlostnotimeinaskingherwhatwasthereason。
　　'Idon'tseewhatyouhavetocomplainofnow;Muffetteisquitewellandquitehappy,andeventheLionFairyiskindtoherwhensheseesher。Whatisit？'
　　'Oh！ifherfathercouldonlyseeher！'brokeforththequeen,claspingherhands。'OrifIcouldonlytellhimallthathashappenedsinceweparted。Buttheywillhavebroughthimtidingsofthebrokencarriage,andhewillhavethoughtmedead,ordevouredbywildbeasts。Andthoughhewillmournformelong——Iknowthatwell——yetintimetheywillpersuadehimtotakeawife,andshewillbeyoungandfair,andhewillforgetme。'
　　Andinallthisthequeenguessedtruly,savethatninelongyearsweretopassbeforehewouldconsenttoputanotherinherplace。
　　Thefroganswerednothingatthetime,butstoppedhergameandhoppedawayamongthecypresstrees。Hereshesatandthoughtandthought,andthenextmorningshewentbacktothequeenandsaid:
　　'Ihavecome,madam,tomakeyouanoffer。ShallIgotothekinginsteadofyou,andtellhimofyoursufferings,andthathehasthemostcharmingbabyintheworldforhisdaughter？Thewayislong,andItravelslowly;but,soonerorlater,Ishallbesuretoarrive。
　　Only,areyounotafraidtobeleftwithoutmyprotection？Ponderthemattercarefully;itisforyoutodecide。'
　　'Oh,itneedsnopondering,'criedthequeenjoyfully,holdingupherclaspedhands,andmakingMuffettedolikewise,intokenofgratitude。
　　ButinorderthathemayknowthatyouhavecomefrommeIwillsendhimaletter。'Andprickingherarm,shewroteafewwordswithherbloodonthecornerofherhandkerchief。Thentearingitoff,shegaveittothefrog,andtheybadeeachotherfarewell。
　　Ittookthefrogayearandfourdaystomountthetenthousandstepsthatledtotheupperworld,butthatwasbecauseshewasstillunderthespellofawickedfairy。Bythetimeshereachedthetop,shewassotiredthatshehadtoremainforanotheryearonthebanksofastreamtorest,andalsotoarrangetheprocessionwithwhichshewastopresentherselfbeforetheking。Forsheknewfartoowellwhatwasduetoherselfandherrelations,toappearatCourtasifshewasamerenobody。Atlength,aftermanyconsultationswithhercap,theaffairwassettled,andattheendofthesecondyearafterherpartingwiththequeentheyallsetout。
　　Firstwalkedherbodyguardofgrasshoppers,followedbyhermaidsofhonour,whowerethosetinygreenfrogsyouseeinthefields,eachonemountedonasnail,andseatedonavelvetsaddle。Nextcamethewater—rats,dressedaspages,andlastlythefrogherself,inalitterbornebyeighttoads,andmadeoftortoiseshell。Hereshecouldlieatherease,withhercaponherhead,foritwasquitelargeandroomy,andcouldeasilyhaveheldtwoeggswhenthefrogwasnotinit。
　　Thejourneylastedsevenyears,andallthistimethequeensufferedtorturesofhope,thoughMuffettedidherbesttocomforther。Indeed,shewouldmostlikelyhavediedhadnottheLionFairytakenafancythatthechildandhermothershouldgohuntingwithherintheupperworld,and,inspiteofhersorrows,itwasalwaysajoytothequeentoseethesunagain。AsforlittleMuffette,bythetimeshewassevenherarrowsseldommissedtheirmark。So,afterall,theyearsofwaitingpassedmorequicklythanthequeenhaddaredtohope。
　　Thefrogwasalwayscarefultomaintainherdignity,andnothingwouldhavepersuadedhertoshowherfaceinpublicplaces,orevenalongthehighroad,wheretherewasachanceofmeetinganyone。Butsometimes,whentheprocessionhadtocrossalittlestream,orgooverapieceofmarshyground,orderswouldbegivenforahalt;fineclotheswerethrownoff,bridleswereflungaside,andgrasshoppers,water—rats,eventhefrogherself,spentadelightfulhourortwoplayinginthemud。
　　Butatlengththeendwasinsight,andthehardshipswereforgotteninthevisionofthetowersoftheking'spalace;and,onebrightmorning,thecavalcadeenteredthegateswithallthepompandcircumstanceofaroyalembassy。Andsurelynoambassadorhadevercreatedsuchasensation！Doorandwindows,eventheroofsofhouses,werefilledwithpeople,whosecheersreachedtheearsoftheking。However,hehadnotimetoattendtosuchmattersjustthen,as,afternineyears,hehadatlastconsentedtotheentreatiesofhiscourtiers,andwasontheeveofcelebratinghissecondmarriage。
　　Thefrog'sheartbeathighwhenherlitterdrewupbeforethestepsofthepalace,andleaningforwardshebeckonedtohersideoneoftheguardswhowerestandinginhisdoorway。
　　'IwishtoseehisMajesty,'saidhe。
　　'HisMajestyisengaged,andcanseenoone,'answeredthesoldier。
　　'HisMajestywillseeME,'returnedthefrog,fixinghereyeuponhim;
　　andsomehowthemanfoundhimselfleadingtheprocessionalongthegalleryintotheHallofAudience,wherethekingsatsurroundedbyhisnoblesarrangingthedresseswhicheveryonewastowearathismarriageceremony。
　　Allstaredinsurpriseastheprocessionadvanced,andstillmorewhenthefroggaveoneboundfromthelitterontothefloor,andwithanotherlandedonthearmofthechairofstate。
　　'Iamonlyjustintime,sire,'beganthefrog;'hadIbeenadaylateryouwouldhavebrokenyourfaithwhichyousworetothequeennineyearsago。'
　　'Herremembrancewillalwaysbedeartome,'answeredthekinggently,thoughallpresentexpectedhimtorebukethefrogseverelyforherimpertinence。Butknow,LadyFrog,thatakingcanseldomdoashewishes,butmustbeboundbythedesiresofhissubjects。FornineyearsIhaveresistedthem;nowIcandosonolonger,andhavemadechoiceofthefairyoungmaidenplayingatballyonder。'
　　'Youcannotwedher,howeverfairshemaybe,forthequeenyourwifeisstillalive,andsendsyouthisletterwritteninherownblood,'
　　saidthefrog,holdingoutthesquareofhandkerchiefasshespoke。
　　'And,whatismore,youhaveadaughterwhoisnearlynineyearsold,andmorebeautifulthanalltheotherchildrenintheworldputtogether。'
　　Thekingturnedpalewhenheheardthesewords,andhishandtrembledsothathecouldhardlyreadwhatthequeenhadwritten。Thenhekissedthehandkerchieftwiceorthrice,andburstintotears,anditwassomeminutesbeforehecouldspeak。Whenatlengthhefoundhisvoicehetoldhiscouncillorsthatthewritingwasindeedthatofthequeen,andnowthathehadthejoyofknowingshewasalivehecould,ofcourse,proceednofurtherwithhissecondmarriage。Thisnaturallydispleasedtheambassadorswhohadconductedthebridetocourt,andoneoftheminquiredindignantlyifhemeanttoputsuchaninsultontheprincessonthewordofamerefrog。
　　'Iamnota"merefrog,"andIwillgiveyouproofofit,'retortedtheangrylittlecreature。Andputtingonhercap,shecried:Fairiesthataremyfriends,comehither！'Andinamomentacrowdofbeautifulcreatures,eachonewithacrownonherhead,stoodbeforeher。