He swam up to a landing of ivory with ivory steps leading down to the water, and who should be standing on the top step, but Rose-Petal herself.
"Welcome," she said as the children leaped joyously to the shore.
"We can't thank you enough, dear Frog," said Iona.
"Chug!" said the frog, and turning around he swam away again as fast as he could go.
"We must tell you the first thing," said Pierre, "that we lost our caps and we are very sorry. We tried not to be careless."
"You were not careless," answered Rose-Petal, "I took them after you found the key."
This was a great relief to the children, and guided by Rose-Petal they walked through avenues of flowers until they reached a gate of mother-of-pearl. Beyond it they could see flowers and fountains and graceful waving trees, and could hear the singing of birds.
Rose-Petal turned to them and smiled, and pointed with her wand to the golden lock. Iona took out the precious key and with it she unlocked the gate of pearl and they walked in. White doves flew about their heads and lighted on the children's heads and hands, and swans sailed about in a pond clear as emerald.
The palace itself now rose before them and it was of mother-of-pearl, very beautiful in shape, and soft looking, like a tinted cloud.