Certainlynonecouldhaveguessedthattheywerethesnails,water—
rats,andgrasshoppersfromwhichshehadchosenherretinue。
Atasignfromthefrogthefairiesdancedaballet,withwhicheveryonewassodelightedthattheybeggedtohavetorepeated;butnowitwasnotyouthsandmaidenswhoweredancing,butflowers。Thentheseagainmeltedintofountains,whosewatersinterlacedand,rushingdownthesidesofthehall,pouredoutinacascadedownthesteps,andformedariverfoundthecastle,withthemostbeautifullittleboatsuponit,allpaintedandgilded。
\'Oh,letusgointhemforasail！\'criedtheprincess,whohadlongagolefthergameofballforasightofthesemarvels,and,asshewasbentuponit,theambassadors,whohadbeenchargednevertolosesightofher,wereobligedtogoalso,thoughtheyneverenteredaboatiftheycouldhelpit。
Butthemomenttheyandtheprincesshadseatedthemselvesonthesoftcushions,riverandboatsvanished,andtheprincessandtheambassadorsvanishedtoo。Insteadthesnailsandgrasshoppersandwater—ratsstoodroundthefrogintheirnaturalshapes。