placed in the chamber before Ellie herself came there.
The old toad bowed most politely to her in the water, at the same time that she introduced her son with the words—“Here you behold my son; he is to be your husband; and you both can live together delightfully down below there in the mud!”
“Cr-oa-oa-oa-k! Cr-oa-oa-oa-k! Breckke-kek!” was all the bridegroom could find to say in reply.
On this they both took the charming little bed and swam away with it; but Ellie sat alone on the leaf and cried, for she could not bear to live with the ugly toad of a mamma, and still less to have her hideous son for a husband. The little fishes that swam below in the water had probably seen the toad, and heard what she said; for they put up their heads that they might have a look at the little maiden. As soon as they had seen her, they were touched by her beauty, and they were very sorry that such a charming little damsel should become
