Well , as I have said , our frog was struck with the queen 's sad face , and lost no time in asking her what was the reason . ' I do n't see what you have to complain of now ; Muffette is quite well and quite happy , and even the Lion Fairy is kind to her when she sees her . What is it ? ' ` Oh ! if her father could only see her ! ' broke forth the queen , clasping her hands . ` Or if I could only tell him all that has happened since we parted . But they will have brought him tidings of the broken carriage , and he will have thought me dead , or devoured by wild beasts . And though he will mourn for me long -- I know that well -- yet in time they will persuade him to take a wife , and she will be young and fair , and he will forget me . ' And in all this the queen guessed truly , save that nine long years were to pass before he would consent to put another in her place . The frog answered nothing at the time , but stopped her game and hopped away among the cypress trees . Here she sat and thought and thought , and the next morning she went back to the queen and said : ' I have come , madam , to make you an offer . Shall I go to the king instead of you , and tell him of your sufferings , and that he has the most charming baby in the world for his daughter ? The way is long , and I travel slowly ; but , sooner or later , I shall be sure to arrive . Only , are you not afraid to be left without my protection ? Ponder the matter carefully ; it is for you to decide . ' ` Oh , it needs no pondering , ' cried the queen joyfully , holding up her clasped hands , and making Muffette do likewise , in token of gratitude . But in order that he may know that you have come from me I will send him a letter . ' And pricking her arm , she wrote a few words with her blood on the corner of her handkerchief . Then tearing it off , she gave it to the frog , and they bade each other farewell .
It took the frog a year and four days to mount the ten thousand steps that led to the upper world , but that was because she was still under the spell XXXXX a wicked fairy .
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