All stared in surprise as the procession advanced , and still more when the frog gave one bound from the litter on to the floor , and with another landed on the arm of the chair of state . ' I am only just in time , sire , ' began the frog ; ` had I been a day later you would have broken your faith which you swore to the queen nine years ago . ' ` Her remembrance will always be dear to me , ' answered the king gently , though all present expected him to rebuke the frog severely for her impertinence . But know , Lady Frog , that a king can seldom do as he wishes , but must be bound by the desires of his subjects . For nine years I have resisted them ; now I can do so no longer , and have made choice of the fair young maiden playing at ball yonder . ' ` You can not wed her , however fair she may be , for the queen your wife is still alive , and sends you this letter written in her own blood , ' said the frog , holding out the square of handkerchief as she spoke . ` And , what is more , you have a daughter who is nearly nine years old , and more beautiful than all the other children in the world put together . ' The king turned pale when he heard these words , and his hand trembled so that he could hardly read what the queen had written . Then he kissed the handkerchief twice or thrice , and burst into tears , and it was some minutes before he could speak . When at length he found his voice he told his councillors that the writing was indeed that of the queen , and now that he had the joy of knowing she was alive he could , of course , proceed no further with his second marriage . This naturally displeased the ambassadors who had conducted the bride to court , and one of them inquired indignantly if he meant to put such an insult on the princess on the word of a mere frog . ' I am not a `` mere frog , '' and I will give you proof of it , ' retorted the angry little creature . And putting on her cap , she cried : Fairies that are my friends , come hither ! ' And in a moment a crowd of beautiful creatures , each one with a crown on her head , stood before her . Certainly none could have guessed that they were the snails , water-rats , and grasshoppers from which she had chosen her retinue . At a sign from the frog the fairies danced a ballet , with which everyone was so delighted that they begged to have to repeated ; but now it was not youths and maidens who were dancing , but flowers . Then these again melted into fountains , whose waters interlaced and , rushing down the sides of the hall , poured out in a cascade down the steps , and formed a river found the castle , with the most beautiful little boats upon it , all painted and gilded . ` Oh , let us go in them for a sail ! ' cried the princess , who had long ago left her game of ball for a sight of these marvels , and , as she was bent upon it , the ambassadors , who had been charged never to lose sight of her , were obliged to go also , though they never entered a boat if they could help it . But the moment they and the princess had seated themselves on the soft cushions , river and boats vanished , and the princess and the ambassadors vanished too .
Instead the snails and grasshoppers and water-rats stood round the frog XXXXX their natural shapes .
For at by in into of than that to with