UNDER THE WATER SKY. 47

Froggy the Fiddler, has brought you to me.
I feared the Hop-toad King might meet you; I
nearly killed him in battle, but he got away.
I shall play him at checkers shortly, though.”

The brightly uniformed froggy guard |
paraded down the garden, six abreast. At their
head marched a bugler. A lovely little fairy
with golden hair and silver wings flitted past.
She joined a handsome, old gnome, who stood,
waiting for her, upon the steps of a palace, some
distance away.

Froggy the Prince grew greatly excited.

“Winter and Spring are going to marry!”

he croaked. “ Their blending will set me free |”
Elsie could not understand, but she said
nothing.

Everything sparkled. Elsie noticed that
the garden walks were strewn with diamonds ;
she stood near a clump of silver bushes.

“Let's go.to the wedding,’ the Prince said ;
he hopped along with Elsie.

The palace shone in green light, and the
Prince explained that it was built in the middle
of an emerald plot. Sunbeams, shining through
the watery sky, were drawn and collected by the
precious stones. These flashed the light so that
the palatial buildings seemed bathed in green
fire. A row of gold-leaf trees lined either side
of the roadway leading to the royal entrance.