“Come and sit on my knee,” said Rosalie presently; and she almost laughed again at the rapidity with which her request was granted.
Although they had lived together so long, this was, as it were, the first time she had seen the frog close.
She took one of its little feet in her fingers, and noticed it was pierced with a hole. Then in turn she looked at each foot separately, and found the same mark in each.
“How did you come by these? They look as if they must have been very painful at one time.”
“It was very stupid of me,” said the frog shyly. “Generally I put a jewel into each, and everyone remarks about my pretty feet, but to-day, with thinking about your affairs, I forgot. It was most negligent of me.”
“Where did you get the jewels from?”
“My master said I found them by myself, but I think he really gave them to me.”
“But tell me about these holes, unless you’d rather not.”
“It’s a short and very common story,” it answered evasively; “I don’t think it would interest you.”
“Indeed it would; you have been so kind to me all along that I know you won’t deny me this.”