er and croak with the other frogs, or could
possibly be any one's companion."

But the frog, as soon as he heard her promise, drew his head under the
water and sank down out of sight, but after a while he came to the
surface again with the ball in his mouth, and he threw it on the grass.

The King's daughter was overjoyed to see her pretty play-thing again,
and she caught it up and ran off with it.

"Stop, stop!" cried the frog; "take me up too; I cannot run as fast as
you!"

But it was of no use, for croak, croak after her as he might, she would
not listen to him, but made haste home, and very soon forgot all about
the poor frog, who had to betake himself to his well again.

The next day, when the King's daughter was sitting at table with the
King and all the court, and eating from her golden plate, there came
something pitter patter up the marble stairs, and then there came a
knocking at the door, and a voice crying "Youngest King's daughter, let
me in!"

And she got up and ran to see who it could be, but when she opened the
door, there was the frog sitting outside. Then she shut the door hastily
and went back to her seat, feeling very uneasy. The King noticed how
quickly her heart was beating, and said,

"My child, what are you afraid of? is there a giant standing at the door
ready to carry you away?"

"Oh no," answered she; "no giant, but a horrid frog."

"And what does the frog want?" asked the King.

"O dear father," answered she, "when I was sitting by the well
yesterday, and playing with my golden ball, it fell into the water, and
while I was crying for the loss of it, the frog came and got it again
for me on condition I would let him be my companion, but I never thought
that he could leave the water and come after me; but now there he is
outside the door, and he wants to come in to me."

And then they all heard him knocking the second time and crying,

"Youngest King's daughter,
Open to me!
By the well water
What promised you me?
Youngest King's daughter
Now open to me!"

"That which thou hast promised must thou perform," said the King; "so go
now and let him in."

So she went and opened the door, and the frog hopped in, following at
her heels, till she reached her chair. Then he stopped and cried,

"Lift me up to sit by you."

But she delayed doing so until the King ordered her. When once the frog
was on the chair, he wanted to get on the table, and there he sat a