Time passed, and Ellen grew up. She got used to keeping rocks in her pockets. This kept her from floating away.
And her parents began to enjoy having a light princess. With Ellen, the palace always rang with laughter. Life was always fun!
By the time Ellen was 17, her parents were uneasy again. Yes, Ellen delighted everyone with her laughter. But she laughed at everything—even things that were not funny.
For instance, whenever the queen cried, Ellen giggled. "Hee-hee! Mama, you're squeezing water out of your cheeks again!"
Whenever the king yelled, Ellen floated around him like a butterfly, grinning. "Make that mean face again, Papa! You look silly!"
Then one day something awkward happened. Ellen was crossing the lawn with two servants. They held her hands tightly. But when Ellen saw her father, she yanked one hand away.
"Papa!"
Ellen looked for rocks to put in her pockets. But all she saw was a big black toad. She grabbed it and started running. She held out her arms, ready to kiss her father.
Suddenly there was a puff of wind. The princess flew in another direction—into a young page's arms. Smack!
The princess planted a kiss on one of the page's cheeks. On the other cheek, she slapped him—with the huge black toad!
The princess giggled. "I hope you like toads!"
The king turned red as she shrieked with laughter. "This is so embarrassing!" he thought. "Something must be done."
The next morning the king and queen sent for the princess. She had only a few small stones in her pockets. So it took her a while to sit down.
The king cleared his throat. "Ellen, you know you're different from everyone."
"No, I'm not!" Ellen laughed. "I have a nose, two eyes, and a mouth, like everyone else."
"Be serious," her mother said.
"No, thank you. I like being silly!" Ellen laughed and laughed.
The king looked at his wife. "Now what?"
"There's only one thing to do," she said. "We must send for Kopp and Humm—the kingdom's wisest philosophers."