"Ah! it is you, old water-paddler!" said she. "I am crying for my golden ball, which has fallen into the well."
"Be content," answered the frog, "I daresay I can give you some good advice; but what will you give me if I bring back your plaything to you?"
"Whatever you like, dear frog," said she, "my clothes, my pearls and jewels, even the golden crown I wear."
The frog answered, "Your clothes, your pearls and jewels, even your golden crown, I do not care for; but if you will love me, and let me be your companion and playfellow; sit near you at your little table, eat from your little golden plate, drink from your little cup, and sleep in your little bed;—if you will promise me this, then I will bring you back your golden ball from the bottom of the well."
"Oh, yes!" said she; "I promise you everything, if you will only bring me back my golden ball."
She thought to herself, meanwhile: "What nonsense the silly frog talks! He sits in the water with the other frogs, and croaks, and can not be anybody's playfellow!"
But the frog, as soon as he had received the promise, dipped his head under the water and sank down. In a little while up he came again with the ball in his mouth, and threw it on the grass. The king's daughter was overjoyed when she beheld her pretty plaything again, picked it up, and ran away with it.
"Wait! wait!" cried the frog; "take me with you. I cannot run as fast as you."
Alas! of what use was it that he croaked after her as loud as he could. She would not listen to him, but hastened home, and soon forgot the poor frog, who was obliged to plunge again to the bottom of his well.
The next day, when she was sitting at dinner with the king and all the courtiers, eating from her little gold plate, there came a sound of something creeping up the marble staircase—splish, splash; and when it had reached the top, it knocked at the door and cried, "Youngest king's daughter, open to me."