STORÝ THÉ FIRST

YÖÜ must áttend tó^tö thé bėginning of^uv this storý, for when wê get tó^tö thé end wê shall knôw more than wê now dö ábout a verý wickéd hobgoblin; hê wáś^woś one^wőne of^uv thé môst mischiévoús of^uv åll sprîtes, for hê wáś^woś a real dêmón.

One^wőne day when hê wáś^woś in a merrý mööd hê mâde a lōōking-glass which had thé põwer of^uv mâking everýthing gōōd or beaûtíful that wáś^woś rėflectėd in it shriñk ålmôst tó^tö nőthing, whîle everýthing that wáś^woś woŕthléss and bad wáś^woś magnífîed sô aś tó^tö lōōk ten tîmeś woŕse than it rêallý wáś^woś.

Thé môst lővelý landscâpes áppėaŕed lîke boiled spinách, and åll thé pêople bėcâme hidêoús and lōōked aś if they stōōd on their headś and had nô bodiêś. Their counténánçėś were sô distortėd that nô one^wőne cōūld recógnîze them, and êvén one^wőne freckle on thé fâçe áppėaŕed tó^tö spread ôver thé whôle of^uv thé nôśe and mouth. Thé dêmón sãid this wáś^woś verý ámûśing. When a gōōd or hôlý thøught passed thröügh thé mînd of^uv ãný one^wőne a wriñkle wáś^woś seen in thé mirroŕ, and then how thé dêmón lāughed^lāufed at hiś cunning invention.

Åll whö went tó^tö thé dêmón's schööl—for hê kept a schööl—tålked everýwheŕe of^uv thé wőnderś they had seen, and dėclãŕed that pêople cōūld now, for thé first tîme, see whåt thé woŕld and its inhabítánts were rêallý lîke. They carriêd thé glass ábout everýwheŕe, till at last theŕe wáś^woś not a land nor a pêople whö had not bėen^been lōōked at thröügh this distortėd mirroŕ.

They wanted^wontéd êvén tó^tö flŷ with it up tó^tö heavén tó^tö see thé ânĝélś, but thé higher they flew thé more slippérý thé glass bėcâme, and they cōūld scãŕçelý hôld it. At last it slipped fróm their handś, fell tó^tö thé eaŕth, and wáś^woś brôkén intö millĩónś of^uv piêçėś.

But now thé lōōking-glass cauśed more unhappïnėss than ever, for sőme of^uv thé fragménts were not sô larĝe aś a grain of^uv sand, and they flew ábout thé woŕld intö everý countrý. And when one^wőne of^uv thêśe tîný atómś flew intö a persón's eŷe it stuck theŕe, unknôwn tó^tö himself, and fróm that mômént hê vĩëwed everýthing thé wrong way, and cōūld see ônlý thé woŕst sîde of^uv whåt hê lōōked at, for êvén thé smållést fragmént rėtained thé sâme põwer which had bėlonged tó^tö thé whôle mirroŕ.

Sőme few persónś êvén got a splinter of^uv thé lōōking-glass in their hearts, and this wáś^woś terríble, for their hearts bėcâme côld and hard lîke a lump of^uv îçe. A few of^uv thé piêçėś were sô larĝe that they cōūld bê ûśed aś windôwpâneś; it wōūld have bėen^been a sad thing indeed tó^tö lōōk at õυŕ friendś thröügh them. Őther piêçėś were mâde intö spectácleś, and this wáś^woś dreadful, for thôśe whö wore them cōūld see nőthing êither rightlý or justlý. At åll this thé wickéd dêmón lāughed^lāufed till hiś sîdeś shōōk, tó^tö see thé mischiéf hê had dőne. Theŕe are still a number of^uv thêśe little fragménts of^uv glass floating ábout in thé ãir, and now yöü shall hėaŕ whåt happéned with one^wőne of^uv them.

SECÓND STORÝ

In a larĝe town fūll of^uv housėś and pêople theŕe iś not rööm for everýbodý tó^tö have êvén a little gardén. Môst pêople are óblîĝed tó^tö content themselveś with a few flõwerś in flõwerpots.

In one^wőne of^uv thêśe larĝe townś lived twö pōōr childrén whö had a gardén sőmewhåt larĝer and better than a few flõwerpots. They were not brőther and sister, but they lőved each őther ålmôst aś much aś if they had bėen^been. Their pãrénts lived oppóśíte each őther in twö garrėts wheŕe thé rööfs of^uv neĩghbóring housėś nėaŕlý joined each őther, and thé wåter pîpe ran bėtween them. In each rööf wáś^woś a little windôw, sô that ãný one^wőne cōūld step ácross thé gutter fróm one^wőne windôw tó^tö thé őther.

Thé pãrénts of^uv each of^uv thêśe childrén had a larĝe wōōdén box in which they cultivâtėd kitchén veĝetábleś for their ôwn ûse, and in each box wáś^woś a little rôśebūsh which grew luxûrïántlý.

After a whîle thé pãrénts dėçîdėd tó^tö plâçe thêśe twö boxėś ácross thé wåter pîpe, sô that they reached fróm one^wőne windôw tó^tö thé őther and lōōked lîke twö bañks of^uv flõwerś. Sweet peaś drööped ôver thé boxėś, and thé rôśebūshėś shot forth long branchėś, which were trained ábout thé windôwś and clustered tógether ålmôst lîke a trîumphál arch of^uv leaveś and flõwerś.

Thé boxėś were verý high, and thé childrén knew they must not clîmb upon them without permiŝŝion; but they oftén had leave tó^tö step out and sit upon their little stöölś under thé rôśebūshėś or play qυîétlý tógether.

In winter åll this pleaŝure câme tó^tö an end, for thé windôwś were sőmetîmeś qυîte frôzén ôver. But they wōūld wårm copper penniêś on thé stôve and hôld thé wårm penniêś ágãinst thé frôzén pâne; then theŕe wōūld söön bê a little round hôle thröügh which they cōūld peep, and thé soft, bright eŷeś of^uv thé little boy and girl wōūld sparkle thröügh thé hôle at each windôw aś they lōōked at each őther. Their nâmeś were Kay and Gerdá. In summer they cōūld bê tógether with one^wőne jump fróm thé windôw, but in winter they had tó^tö gô up and down thé long stãircâse and out thröügh thé snôw bėfore they cōūld meet.

"See! theŕe are thé whîte beeś swårming," sãid Kay's ôld grandmőther one^wőne day when it wáś^woś snôwing.

"Have they a qυeen bee?" asked thé little boy, for hê knew that thé real beeś ålwayś had a qυeen.

"Tó^tö bê ŝūre they have," sãid thé grandmőther. "Shê iś flŷing theŕe wheŕe thé swårm iś thickėst. Shê iś thé larĝést of^uv them åll and never rėmainś on thé eaŕth, but flîeś up tó^tö thé dark cloudś. Oftén at midnight shê flîeś thröügh thé streets of^uv thé town and breatheś with her frostý breath upon thé windôwś; then thé îçe freezėś on thé pâneś intö wőnderful formś that lōōk lîke flõwerś and castleś."

"Yes, Î have seen them," sãid bôth thé childrén; and they knew it must bê trüe.

"Can thé Snôw Qυeen cőme in hėŕe?" asked thé little girl.

"Ônlý let her cőme," sãid thé boy. "Î'll pūt her on thé wårm stôve, and then shê'll melt."

Thé grandmőther smööthed hiś hãir and tôld him more storiêś.

That sâme êvening when little Kay wáś^woś at hôme, hālf undressed, hê clîmbed upon a chãir bŷ thé windôw and peeped out thröügh thé little round hôle. A few flâkes of^uv snôw were fālling, and one^wőne of^uv them, rather larĝer than thé rest, álightėd on thé edĝe of^uv one^wőne of^uv thé flõwer boxėś. Strânĝe tó^tö say, this snôwflâke grew larĝer and larĝer till at last it tōōk thé form of^uv a wōmán dressed in garménts of^uv whîte gauze, which lōōked lîke millĩónś of^uv starrý snôwflâkes liñked tógether. Shê wáś^woś fãir and beaûtíful, but mâde of^uv îçe—glittéring, dazzling îçe. Still, shê wáś^woś álîve, and her eŷeś sparkled lîke bright starś, thôugh theŕe wáś^woś nêither peaçe nor rest in them. Shê noddėd tówård thé windôw and wâved her hand. Thé little boy wáś^woś frighténed and sprang fróm thé chãir, and at thé sâme mômént it seemed aś if a larĝe bird flew bŷ thé windôw.

On thé follôwing day theŕe wáś^woś a clėaŕ frost, and verý söön câme thé spring. Thé sun shoneyy; thé young green leaveś burst forth; thé swāllôwś^swollôwś built their nests; windôwś were ôpéned, and thé childrén sat őnçe^wőnçe more in thé gardén on thé rööf, high ábőve åll thé őther röömś.

How beaûtífúllý thé rôśėś blossőmed this summer! Thé little girl had leaŕned a hẏmn in which rôśėś were spôkén of^uv. Shê thøught of^uv their ôwn rôśėś, and shê sang thé hẏmn tó^tö thé little boy, and hê sang, töö:

One^wőne day Kay and Gerdá sat lōōking at a bōōk of^uv picťureś of^uv anímálś and birdś. Just then, aś thé clock in thé church tõwer struck twelve, Kay sãid, "Ôh, sőmething haś struck mŷ heart!" and söön after, "Theŕe iś çertáinlý sőmething in mŷ eŷe."

Thé little girl pūt her arm round hiś neck and lōōked intö hiś eŷe, but shê cōūld see nőthing.

"Î bėliêve it iś gone," hê sãid. But it wáś^woś not gone; it wáś^woś one^wőne of^uv thôśe bits of^uv thé lōōking-glass,—that maĝic mirroŕ of^uv which wê have spôkén,—thé uglý glass which mâde everýthing greât and gōōd áppėaŕ småll and uglý, whîle åll that wáś^woś wickéd and bad bėcâme more viśíble, and everý little fault cōūld bê plainlý seen. Pōōr little Kay had ålsô rėçêived a småll splinter in hiś heart, which verý qυicklý turned tó^tö a lump of^uv îçe. Hê felt nô more pain, but thé glass wáś^woś theŕe still. "Whŷ dö yöü crŷ?" sãid hê at last. "It mâkes yöü lōōk uglý. Theŕe iś nőthing thé matter with mê now. Ôh, fîe!" hê crîed suddénlý; "That rôśe iś woŕm-eatén, and this one^wőne iś qυîte crōōkéd. After åll, they are uglý rôśėś, just lîke thé box in which they stand." And then hê kicked thé boxėś with hiś fōōt and pūlled off thé twö rôśėś.

"Whŷ, Kay, whåt are yöü döing?" crîed thé little girl; and then when hê saw how griêved shê wáś^woś hê tore off ánőther rôśe and jumped thröügh hiś ôwn windôw, áway fróm sweet little Gerdá.

When afterwaŕd shê brøught out thé picťure bōōk hê sãid, "It iś ônlý fit for bâbiêś in long clôtheś," and when grandmőther tôld storiêś hê wōūld intérrupt her with "but"; or sőmetîmeś when hê cōūld manáĝe it hê wōūld get bėhînd her chãir, pūt on a pãir of^uv spectácleś, and imítâte her verý cleverlý tó^tö mâke thé pêople laugh^lāf. Bŷ and bŷ hê bėgan tó^tö mimic thé speech and gait of^uv persónś in thé street. Åll that wáś^woś pėcûlĩaŕ or diságrêeáble in a persón hê wōūld imítâte dîrectlý, and pêople sãid, "That boy will bê verý clever; hê haś a rėmarkáble ĝênĩus." But it wáś^woś thé piêçe of^uv glass in hiś eŷe and thé côldnéss in hiś heart that mâde him act lîke this. Hê wōūld êvén teaśe little Gerdá, whö lőved him with åll her heart.

Hiś gâmeś töö were qυîte differént; they were not sô chîldlîke. One^wőne winter's day, when it snôwed, hê brøught out a burning glass, then, hôlding out thé skirt of^uv hiś blüe coat, let thé snôwflâkes fåll upon it.

"Lōōk in this glass, Gerdá," sãid hê, and shê saw how everý flâke of^uv snôw wáś^woś magnífîed and lōōked lîke a beaûtíful flõwer or a glittéring star.

"Iś it not clever," sãid Kay, "and much more interésting than lōōking at real flõwerś? Theŕe iś not a siñgle fault in it. Thé snôwflâkes are qυîte perfect till they bėgin tó^tö melt."

Söön after, Kay mâde hiś áppėáránçe in larĝe, thick glőveś and with hiś sledĝe at hiś back. Hê cålled upstãirś tó^tö Gerdá, "Î've got leave tó^tö gô intö thé greât sqυãŕe, wheŕe thé őther boyś play and rîde." And áway hê went.

In thé greât sqυãŕe thé bôldėst ámőng thé boyś wōūld oftén tîe their sledges tó^tö thé wagónś of^uv thé countrý pêople and sô get a rîde. This wáś^woś capítál. But whîle they were åll ámûśing themselveś, and Kay with them, a greât sledĝe câme bŷ; it wáś^woś paintėd whîte, and in it sat sőme one^wőne wrapped in a rough^rouf whîte fur and weáring a whîte cap. Thé sledĝe drôve twîçe round thé sqυãŕe, and Kay fasténed hiś ôwn little sledĝe tó^tö it, sô that when it went áway hê went with it. It went faster and faster right thröügh thé next street, and thé persón whö drôve turned round and noddėd pleaśántlý tó^tö Kay aś if they were well ácqυaintėd with each őther; but whenever Kay wished tó^tö löösén hiś little sledĝe thé drîver turned and noddėd aś if tó^tö signífŷ that hê wáś^woś tó^tö stay, sô Kay sat still, and they drôve out thröügh thé town gâte.

Then thé snôw bėgan tó^tö fåll sô heavílý that thé little boy cōūld not see a hand's breadth bėfore him, but still they drôve on. Hê suddénlý lööséned thé cord sô that thé larĝe sledĝe might gô on without him, but it wáś^woś of^uv nô ûse; hiś little carriaĝe held fast, and áway they went lîke thé wind. Then hê cålled out loudlý, but nôbodý heaŕd him, whîle thé snôw beat upon him, and thé sledĝe flew onwaŕd. Everý now and then it gâve a jump, aś if they were gôing ôver hedĝėś and ditchėś. Thé boy wáś^woś frighténed and trîed tó^tö say a prâyer, but hê cōūld rėmember nőthing but thé multíplícâtion tâble.

Thé snôwflâkes bėcâme larĝer and larĝer, till they áppėaŕed lîke greât whîte birdś. Åll at őnçe^wőnçe they sprang on one^wőne sîde, thé greât sledĝe stopped, and thé persón whö had drivén it rôśe up. Thé fur and thé cap, which were mâde ėntîrelý of^uv snôw, fell off, and hê saw a lâdý, tåll and whîte; it wáś^woś thé Snôw Qυeen.

"Wê have drivén well," sãid shê; "but whŷ dö yöü tremble sô? Hėŕe, creep intö mŷ wårm fur." Then shê seatėd him bėsîde her in thé sledĝe, and aś shê wrapped thé fur ábout him, hê felt aś if hê were siñking intö a snôwdrift.

"Are yöü still côld?" shê asked, aś shê kissed him on thé forehead. Thé kiss wáś^woś côlder than îçe; it went qυîte thröügh tó^tö hiś heart, which wáś^woś ålmôst a lump of^uv îçe ålreadý. Hê felt aś if hê were gôing tó^tö dîe, but ônlý for a mômént—hê söön seemed qυîte well and did not nôtiçe thé côld åll áround him.

"Mŷ sledĝe! Dôn't foŕget mŷ sledĝe," wáś^woś hiś first thøught, and then hê lōōked and saw that it wáś^woś bound fast tó^tö one^wőne of^uv thé whîte birdś which flew bėhînd him. Thé Snôw Qυeen kissed little Kay ágãin, and bŷ this tîme hê had foŕgottén little Gerdá, hiś grandmőther, and åll at hôme.

"Now yöü must have nô more kissėś," shê sãid, "or Î shōūld kiss yöü tó^tö death."

Kay lōōked at her. Shê wáś^woś sô beaûtíful, hê cōūld not imaĝíne a more lővelý fâçe; shê did not now seem tó^tö bê mâde of^uv îçe aś when hê had seen her thröügh hiś windôw and shê had noddėd tó^tö him.

In hiś eŷeś shê wáś^woś perfect, and hê did not feel at åll áfraid. Hê tôld her hê cōūld dö mentál árithmétic aś far aś fractionś, and that hê knew thé number of^uv sqυãŕe mîleś and thé number of^uv inhabítánts in thé countrý. Shê smîled, and it óccurŕed tó^tö him that shê thøught hê did not yet knôw sô verý much.

Hê lōōked áround thé vast ėxpanse aś shê flew higher and higher with him upon a black cloud, whîle thé storm blew and howled aś if it were singing songś of^uv ôldén tîme. They flew ôver wōōdś and lâkes, ôver sea and land; bėlôw them røared thé wîld wind; wōlveś howled, and thé snôw crackled; ôver them flew thé black, screaming crôwś, and ábőve åll shoneyy thé möön, clėaŕ and bright—and sô Kay passed thröügh thé long, long winter's night, and bŷ day hê slept at thé feet of^uv thé Snôw Qυeen.

THIRD STORÝ

But how fãred little Gerdá in Kay's absénçe?

Whåt had bėcőme of^uv him nô one^wőne knew, nor cōūld ãný one^wőne give thé slightést infoŕmâtion, excepting thé boyś, whö sãid that hê had tîed hiś sledĝe tó^tö ánőther verý larĝe one^wőne, which had drivén thröügh thé street and out at thé town gâte. Nô one^wőne knew wheŕe it went. Mãný tėaŕś were shed for him, and little Gerdá wept bitterlý for a long tîme. Shê sãid shê knew hê must bê dead, that hê wáś^woś drowned in thé river which flôwed clôse bŷ thé schööl. Thé long winter dayś were verý drėárý. But at last spring câme with wårm sunshîne.

"Kay iś dead and gone," sãid little Gerdá.

"Î dôn't bėliêve it," sãid thé sunshîne.

"Hê iś dead and gone," shê sãid tó^tö thé sparrôwś.

"Wê dôn't bėliêve it," they rėplîed, and at last little Gerdá bėgan tó^tö doubt it herself.

"Î will pūt on mŷ new red shöeś," shê sãid one^wőne morning, "thôśe that Kay haś never seen, and then Î will gô down tó^tö thé river and ask for him."

It wáś^woś qυîte yeaŕlý when shê kissed her ôld grandmőther, whö wáś^woś still ásleep; then shê pūt on her red shöeś and went, qυîte álône, out of^uv thé town gâte, tówård thé river.

"Iś it trüe that yöü have tâkén mŷ little playmâte áway fróm mê?" shê sãid tó^tö thé river. "Î will give yöü mŷ red shöeś if yöü will give him back tó^tö mê."

And it seemed aś if thé wâveś noddėd tó^tö her in a strânĝe manner. Then shê tōōk off her red shöeś, which shê lîked better than ãnýthing else, and threw them bôth intö thé river, but they fell nėaŕ thé bañk, and thé little wâveś carriêd them back tó^tö land just aś if thé river wōūld not tâke fróm her whåt shê lőved best, bėcauśe it cōūld not give her back little Kay.

But shê thøught thé shöeś had not bėen^been thrôwn out far enough^ėnouf. Then shê crept intö a boat that lay ámőng thé reedś, and threw thé shöeś ágãin fróm thé farther end of^uv thé boat intö thé wåter; but it wáś^woś not fasténed, and her mövemént sent it glîding áway fróm thé land. When shê saw this shê hâsténed tó^tö reach thé end of^uv thé boat, but bėfore shê cōūld dö sô it wáś^woś more than a yard fróm thé bañk and drifting áway faster than ever.

Little Gerdá wáś^woś verý much frighténed. Shê bėgan tó^tö crŷ, but nô one^wőne heaŕd her ėxcept thé sparrôwś, and they cōūld not carrý her tó^tö land, but they flew álong bŷ thé shore and sang aś if tó^tö cómfoŕt her: "Hėŕe wê are! Hėŕe wê are!"

Thé boat floatėd with thé stream, and little Gerdá sat qυîte still with ônlý her stockingś on her feet; thé red shöeś floatėd after her, but shê cōūld not reach them bėcauśe thé boat kept sô much in ádvançe.

Thé bañks on êither sîde of^uv thé river were verý prėttý. Theŕe were beaûtíful flõwerś, ôld treeś, slôping fiêldś in which cowś and sheep were grâzing, but not a hûmán bêing tó^tö bê seen.

"Perhaps thé river will carrý mê tó^tö little Kay," thøught Gerdá, and then shê bėcâme more chėerful, and raiśed her head and lōōked at thé beaûtíful green bañks; and sô thé boat sailed on for hõυŕś. At length shê câme tó^tö a larĝe cherrý orchaŕd, in which stōōd a småll house with strânĝe red and blüe windôwś. It had ålsô a thatched rööf, and outsîde were twö wōōdén sôldierś that prêśentéd armś tó^tö her aś shê sailed past. Gerdá cålled out tó^tö them, for shê thøught they were álîve; but of^uv cøurse they did not answer, and aś thé boat driftėd nêarer tó^tö thé shore shê saw whåt they rêallý were.

Then Gerdá cålled still louder, and theŕe câme a verý ôld wōmán out of^uv thé house, leaning on a crutch. Shê wore a larĝe hat tó^tö shâde her fróm thé sun, and on it were paintėd åll sorts of^uv prėttý flõwerś.

"Yöü pōōr little chîld," sãid thé ôld wōmán, "how did yöü manáĝe tó^tö cőme this long, long distánçe intö thé wîde woŕld on such a rapid, rôlling stream?" And then thé ôld wōmán wålked intö thé wåter, sêized thé boat with her crutch, drew it tó^tö land, and liftėd little Gerdá out. And Gerdá wáś^woś glad tó^tö feel herself ágãin on drŷ ground, ålthôugh shê wáś^woś rather áfraid of^uv thé strânĝe ôld wōmán.

"Cőme and tell mê whö yöü are," sãid shê, "and how yöü câme hėŕe."

Then Gerdá tôld her everýthing, whîle thé ôld wōmán shōōk her head and sãid, "Hem-hem"; and when Gerdá had finished shê asked thé ôld wōmán if shê had not seen little Kay. Shê tôld her hê had not passed that way, but hê verý lîkelý wōūld cőme. Shê tôld Gerdá not tó^tö bê sorrôwful, but tó^tö tâste thé cherriêś and lōōk at thé flõwerś; they were better than ãný picťure bōōk, for each of^uv them cōūld tell a storý. Then shê tōōk Gerdá bŷ thé hand, and led her intö thé little house, and clôśed thé door. Thé windôwś were verý high, and aś thé pâneś were red, blüe, and yellôw, thé daylight shoneyy thröügh them in åll sorts of^uv siñgûlaŕ cőloŕś. On thé tâble stōōd sőme beaûtíful cherriêś, and Gerdá had permiŝŝion tó^tö eat aś mãný aś shê wōūld. Whîle shê wáś^woś eating them thé ôld wōmán cômbed out her long flaxén ringlétś with a gôldén cômb, and thé glossý curlś hung down on each sîde of^uv thé little round, pleaśánt fâçe, which lōōked fresh and blööming aś a rôśe.

"Î have long bėen^been wishing for a dėaŕ little maidén lîke yöü," sãid thé ôld wōmán, "and now yöü must stay with mê and see how happílý wê shall live tógether." And whîle shê went on cômbing little Gerdá's hãir thé chîld thøught less and less ábout her ádoptéd brőther Kay, for thé ôld wōmán wáś^woś an enchantress, ålthôugh shê wáś^woś not a wickéd witch; shê conjured ônlý a little for her ôwn ámûśemént, and, now, bėcauśe shê wanted^wontéd tó^tö keep Gerdá. Theŕefore shê went intö thé gardén and stretched out her crutch tówård åll thé rôśe treeś, beaûtíful thôugh they were, and they immêdïátelý sañk intö thé dark eaŕth, sô that nô one^wőne cōūld tell wheŕe they had őnçe^wőnçe stōōd. Thé ôld wōmán wáś^woś áfraid that if little Gerdá saw rôśėś, shê wōūld thiñk of^uv thôśe at hôme and then rėmember little Kay and run áway.

Then shê tōōk Gerdá intö thé flõwer gardén. How frâgránt and beaûtíful it wáś^woś! Everý flõwer that cōūld bê thøught of^uv, for everý seaśón of^uv thé yėaŕ, wáś^woś hėŕe in fūll blööm; nô picťure bōōk cōūld have more beaûtíful cőloŕś. Gerdá jumped for joy, and played till thé sun went down bėhînd thé tåll cherrý treeś; then shê slept in an elégánt bed, with red silk pillôwś embroidered with cőloŕed vîóléts, and shê dreamed aś pleaśántlý aś a qυeen on her wedding day.

Thé next day, and for mãný dayś after, Gerdá played with thé flõwerś in thé wårm sunshîne. Shê knew everý flõwer, and yet, ålthôugh theŕe were sô mãný of^uv them, it seemed aś if one^wőne were missing, but whåt it wáś^woś shê cōūld not tell. One^wőne day, however, aś shê sat lōōking at thé ôld wōmán's hat with thé paintėd flõwerś on it, shê saw that thé prėttïést of^uv them åll wáś^woś a rôśe. Thé ôld wōmán had foŕgottén tó^tö tâke it fróm her hat when shê mâde åll thé rôśėś siñk intö thé eaŕth. But it iś diffícult tó^tö keep thé thøughts tógether in everýthing, and one^wőne little mistâke upsets åll õυŕ árrânĝeménts.

"Whåt! are theŕe nô rôśėś hėŕe?" crîed Gerdá, and shê ran out intö thé gardén and ėxamíned åll thé bedś, and seaŕched and seaŕched. Theŕe wáś^woś not one^wőne tó^tö bê found. Then shê sat down and wept, and her tėaŕś fell just on thé plâçe wheŕe one^wőne of^uv thé rôśe treeś had suñk down. Thé wårm tėaŕś moisténed thé eaŕth, and thé rôśe tree sproutėd up at őnçe^wőnçe, aś blööming aś when it had suñk; and Gerdá embrâçed it, and kissed thé rôśėś, and thøught of^uv thé beaûtíful rôśėś at hôme, and, with them, of^uv little Kay.

"Ôh, how Î have bėen^been dėtained!" sãid thé little maidén. "Î wanted^wontéd tó^tö seek for little Kay. Dö yöü knôw wheŕe hê iś?" shê asked thé rôśėś; "dö yöü thiñk hê iś dead?"

And thé rôśėś answered: "Nô, hê iś not dead. Wê have bėen^been in thé ground, wheŕe åll thé dead lîe, but Kay iś not theŕe."

"Thañk yöü," sãid little Gerdá, and then shê went tó^tö thé őther flõwerś and lōōked intö their little cups and asked, "Dö yöü knôw wheŕe little Kay iś?" But each flõwer aś it stōōd in thé sunshîne dreamed ônlý of^uv its ôwn little fãírý tâle or historý. Not one^wőne knew ãnýthing of^uv Kay. Gerdá heaŕd mãný storiêś fróm thé flõwerś, aś shê asked them one^wőne after ánőther ábout him.

And then shê ran tó^tö thé őther end of^uv thé gardén. Thé door wáś^woś fasténed, but shê pressed ágãinst thé rustý latch, and it gâve way. Thé door sprang ôpén, and little Gerdá ran out with bãŕe feet intö thé wîde woŕld. Shê lōōked back three tîmeś, but nô one^wőne seemed tó^tö bê follôwing her. At last shê cōūld run nô loñger, sô shê sat down tó^tö rest on a greât stône, and when shê lōōked áround shê saw that thé summer wáś^woś ôver and autumn verý far ádvançed. Shê had knôwn nőthing of^uv this in thé beaûtíful gardén wheŕe thé sun shoneyy and thé flõwerś grew åll thé yėaŕ round.

"Ôh, how Î have wâstėd mŷ tîme!" sãid little Gerdá. "It iś autumn; Î must not rest ãný loñger," and shê rôśe tó^tö gô on. But her little feet were wöündėd and sore, and everýthing áround her lōōked côld and bleak. Thé long willôw leaveś were qυîte yellôw, thé dewdrops fell lîke wåter, leaf after leaf dropped fróm thé treeś; thé slôe thorn álône still bore früit, but thé slôeś were sõυŕ and set thé teeth on edĝe. Ôh, how dark and wėárý thé whôle woŕld áppėaŕed!

FØURTH STORÝ

Gerdá wáś^woś óblîĝed tó^tö rest ágãin, and just oppóśíte thé plâçe wheŕe shê sat shê saw a greât crôw cőme hopping tówård her ácross thé snôw. Hê stōōd lōōking at her for sőme tîme, and then hê wagged hiś head and sãid, "Caw, caw, gōōd day, gōōd day." Hê prónounçed thé woŕdś aś plainlý aś hê cōūld, bėcauśe hê meant tó^tö bê kînd tó^tö thé little girl, and then hê asked her wheŕe shê wáś^woś gôing åll álône in thé wîde woŕld.

Thé woŕd "álône" Gerdá understōōd verý well and felt how much it ėxpressed. Sô shê tôld thé crôw thé whôle storý of^uv her lîfe and advenťureś and asked him if hê had seen little Kay.

Thé crôw noddėd hiś head verý grâvelý and sãid, "Perhaps Î have—it may bê."

"Nô! Dö yöü rêallý thiñk yöü have?" crîed little Gerdá, and shê kissed thé crôw and hugged him ålmôst tó^tö death, with joy.

"Ĝentlý, ĝentlý," sãid thé crôw. "Î bėliêve Î knôw. Î thiñk it may bê little Kay; but hê haś çertáinlý foŕgottén yöü bŷ this tîme, for thé prinçess."

"Dőeś hê live with a prinçess?" asked Gerdá.

"Yes, listén," rėplîed thé crôw; "but it iś sô diffícult tó^tö speak yøur lañgυáĝe. If yöü understand thé crôwś' lañgυáĝe, then Î can ėxplain it better. Dö yöü?"

"Nô, Î have never leaŕned it," sãid Gerdá, "but mŷ grandmőther understandś it, and ûśed tó^tö speak it tó^tö mê. Î wish Î had leaŕned it."

"It dőeś not matter," answered thé crôw. "Î will ėxplain aś well aś Î can, ålthôugh it will bê verý badlý dőne"; and hê tôld her whåt hê had heaŕd.

"In this kingdóm wheŕe wê now are," sãid hê, "theŕe liveś a prinçess whö iś sô wőnderfullý clever that shê haś read åll thé newśpâperś in thé woŕld—and foŕgottén them töö, ålthôugh shê iś sô clever.

"A short tîme ágô, aś shê wáś^woś sitting on her thrône, which pêople say iś not such an ágrêeáble seat aś iś oftén suppôśed, shê bėgan tó^tö sing a song which cómmençéś with thêśe woŕdś:

'Whŷ not, indeed?' sãid shê, and sô shê dėtermíned tó^tö marrý if shê cōūld fînd a huśbánd whö knew whåt tó^tö say when hê wáś^woś spôkén tó^tö, and not one^wőne whö cōūld ônlý lōōk grand, for that wáś^woś sô tîresőme. Shê ássembled åll her cøurt lâdiêś at thé beat of^uv thé drum, and when they heaŕd of^uv her intenťiónś they were verý much pleaśed.

"'Wê are sô glad tó^tö hėaŕ of^uv it,' sãid they. 'Wê were tålking ábout it õυŕselveś thé őther day.'

"Yöü may bėliêve that everý woŕd Î tell yöü iś trüe," sãid thé crôw, "for Î have a tâme sweetheart whö hops freelý ábout thé paláçe, and shê tôld mê åll this."

Of^uv cøurse hiś sweetheart wáś^woś a crôw, for "birdś of^uv a feather flock tógether," and one^wőne crôw ålwayś chööśėś ánőther crôw.

"Newśpâperś were published immêdïátelý with a border of^uv hearts and thé iniţiálś of^uv thé prinçess ámőng them. They gâve nôtiçe that everý young man whö wáś^woś handsőme wáś^woś free tó^tö viśit thé castle and speak with thé prinçess, and thôśe whö cōūld rėplŷ loud enough^ėnouf tó^tö bê heaŕd when spôkén tó^tö were tó^tö mâke themselveś qυîte at hôme at thé paláçe, and thé one^wőne whö spôke best wōūld bê chôśén aś a huśbánd for thé prinçess.

"Yes, yes, yöü may bėliêve mê. It iś åll aś trüe aś Î sit hėŕe," sãid thé crôw.

"Thé pêople câme in crowdś. Theŕe wáś^woś a greât deal of^uv crushing and running ábout, but nô one^wőne sucçeedėd êither on thé first or thé secónd day. They cōūld åll speak verý well whîle they were outsîde in thé streets, but when they entered thé paláçe gâtes and saw thé guardś in silver ûníformś and thé fōōtmen in their gôldén livérý on thé stãircâse and thé greât hållś lightėd up, they bėcâme qυîte cónfûśed. And when they stōōd bėfore thé thrône on which thé prinçess sat they cōūld dö nőthing but rėpeat thé last woŕdś shê had sãid, and shê had nô paŕticûlaŕ wish tó^tö hėaŕ her ôwn woŕdś ôver ágãin. It wáś^woś just aś if they had åll tâkén sőmething tó^tö mâke them sleepý whîle they were in thé paláçe, for they did not rėcőver themselveś nor speak till they got back ágãin intö thé street. Theŕe wáś^woś a long próçeŝŝion of^uv them, reaching fróm thé town gâte tó^tö thé paláçe.

"Î went mŷself tó^tö see them," sãid thé crôw. "They were huñgrý and thirstý, for at thé paláçe they did not êvén get a glass of^uv wåter. Sőme of^uv thé wîśést had tâkén a few slîçėś of^uv bread and butter with them, but they did not shãŕe it with their neĩghboŕś; they thøught if thé őtherś went in tó^tö thé prinçess lōōking huñgrý, theŕe wōūld bê a better chançe for themselveś."

"But Kay! tell mê ábout little Kay!" sãid Gerdá. "Wáś^woś hê ámőng thé crowd?"

"Stop a bit; wê are just cőming tó^tö him. It wáś^woś on thé third day that theŕe câme marching cheėŕfullý álong tó^tö thé paláçe a little persónáĝe without horsėś or carriaĝe, hiś eŷeś sparkling lîke yøurś. Hê had beaûtíful long hãir, but hiś clôtheś were verý pōōr."

"That wáś^woś Kay," sãid Gerdá, joyfullý. "Ôh, then Î have found him!" and shê clapped her handś.

"Hê had a little knapsack on hiś back," addėd thé crôw.

"Nô, it must have bėen^been hiś sledĝe," sãid Gerdá, "for hê went áway with it."

"It may have bėen^been sô," sãid thé crôw; "Î did not lōōk at it verý clôselý. But Î knôw fróm mŷ tâme sweetheart that hê passed thröügh thé paláçe gâtes, saw thé guardś in their silver ûníform and thé servánts in their livériêś of^uv gôld on thé stãirś, but wáś^woś not in thé least ėmbarrássed.

"'It must bê verý tîresőme tó^tö stand on thé stãirś,' hê sãid. 'Î prėfer tó^tö gô in.'

"Thé röömś were blâzing with light; counçíloŕś and ambassádoŕś wålked ábout with bãŕe feet, carrýing gôldén vessélś; it wáś^woś enough^ėnouf tó^tö mâke ãný one^wőne feel sėrïoús. Hiś bööts creaked loudlý aś hê wålked, and yet hê wáś^woś not at åll uneaśý."

"It must bê Kay," sãid Gerdá; "Î knôw hê had new bööts on. Î heaŕd them creak in grandmőther's rööm."

"They rêallý did creak," sãid thé crôw, "yet hê went bôldlý up tó^tö thé prinçess herself, whö wáś^woś sitting on a peaŕl aś larĝe aś a spinning wheel. And åll thé lâdiêś of^uv thé cøurt were preśént with their maidś and åll thé caválierś with their servánts, and each of^uv thé maidś had ánőther maid tó^tö wait upon her, and thé caválierś' servánts had their ôwn servánts aś well aś each a pâĝe. They åll stōōd in çircles round thé prinçess, and thé nêarer they stōōd tó^tö thé door thé prouder they lōōked. Thé servánts' pâĝėś, whö ålwayś wore slipperś, cōūld hardlý bê lōōked at, they held themselveś up sô proudlý bŷ thé door."

"It must bê qυîte awful," sãid little Gerdá; "but did Kay win thé prinçess?"

"If Î had not bėen^been a crôw," sãid hê, "Î wōūld have marriêd her mŷself, ålthôugh Î am eñgâĝed. Hê spôke aś well aś Î dö when Î speak thé crôwś' lañgυáĝe. Î heaŕd this fróm mŷ tâme sweetheart. Hê wáś^woś qυîte free and ágrêeáble and sãid hê had not cőme tó^tö wöö thé prinçess, but tó^tö hėaŕ her wiśdóm. And hê wáś^woś aś pleaśed with her aś shê wáś^woś with him."

"Ôh, çertáinlý that wáś^woś Kay," sãid Gerdá; "hê wáś^woś sô clever; hê cōūld woŕk mentál árithmétic and fractionś. Ôh, will yöü tâke mê tó^tö thé paláçe?"

"It iś verý eaśý tó^tö ask that," rėplîed thé crôw, "but how are wê tó^tö manáĝe it? However, Î will speak ábout it tó^tö mŷ tâme sweetheart and ask her advîçe, for, Î must tell yöü, it will bê verý diffícult tó^tö gain permiŝŝion for a little girl lîke yöü tó^tö enter thé paláçe."

"Ôh, yes, but Î shall gain permiŝŝion eaśílý," sãid Gerdá, "for when Kay hėaŕś that Î am hėŕe hê will cőme out and fetch mê in immêdïátelý."

"Wait for mê hėŕe bŷ thé pâlingś," sãid thé crôw, wagging hiś head aś hê flew áway.

It wáś^woś lâte in thé êvening bėfore thé crôw rėturned. "Caw, caw!" hê sãid; "Shê sendś yöü greeting, and hėŕe iś a little rôll which shê tōōk fróm thé kitchén for yöü. Theŕe iś plentý of^uv bread theŕe, and shê thiñks yöü must bê huñgrý. It iś not possíble for yöü tó^tö enter thé paláçe bŷ thé frőnt entránçe. Thé guardś in silver ûníform and thé servánts in gôld livérý wōūld not állow it. But dö not crŷ; wê will manáĝe tó^tö get yöü in. Mŷ sweetheart knôwś a little back stãircâse that leadś tó^tö thé sleeping ápartménts, and shê knôwś wheŕe tó^tö fînd thé kêy."

Then they went intö thé gardén, thröügh thé greât avénüe, wheŕe thé leaveś were fālling one^wőne after ánőther, and they cōūld see thé lights in thé paláçe bêing pūt out in thé sâme manner. And thé crôw led little Gerdá tó^tö a back door which stōōd ájar. Ôh! how her heart beat with añxîétý and longing; it wáś^woś aś if shê were gôing tó^tö dö sőmething wrong, and yet shê ônlý wanted^wontéd tó^tö knôw wheŕe little Kay wáś^woś.

"It must bê hê," shê thøught, "with thôśe clėaŕ eŷeś and that long hãir."

Shê cōūld fançý shê saw him smîling at her aś hê ûśed tó^tö at hôme when they sat ámőng thé rôśėś. Hê wōūld çertáinlý bê glad tó^tö see her, and tó^tö hėaŕ whåt a long distánçe shê had cőme for hiś sâke, and tó^tö knôw how sorrý they had åll bėen^been at hôme bėcauśe hê did not cőme back. Ôh, whåt joy and yet whåt fėaŕ shê felt!

They were now on thé stãirś, and in a småll clośét at thé top a lamp wáś^woś burning. In thé middle of^uv thé floor stōōd thé tâme crôw, turning her head fróm sîde tó^tö sîde and gâzing at Gerdá, whö cúrtsiêd aś her grandmőther had taught her tó^tö dö.

"Mŷ bėtrôthed haś spôkén sô verý highlý of^uv yöü, mŷ little lâdý," sãid thé tâme crôw. "Yøur storý iś verý touching. If yöü will tâke thé lamp, Î will wålk bėfore yöü. Wê will gô straight álong this way; then wê shall meet nô one^wőne."

"Î feel aś if sőmebódý were bėhînd us," sãid Gerdá, aś sőmething rushed bŷ her lîke a shadôw on thé wåll; and then it seemed tó^tö her that horsėś with flŷing mâneś and thin legś, hunterś, lâdiêś and ĝentlemén on horseback, glîdėd bŷ her lîke shadôwś.

"They are ônlý dreamś," sãid thé crôw; "they are cőming tó^tö carrý thé thøughts of^uv thé greât pêople out hunting. Åll thé better, for if their thøughts are out hunting, wê shall bê âble tó^tö lōōk at them in their bedś more sâfelý. Î hôpe that when yöü rîśe tó^tö honoŕ and fâvoŕ yöü will shôw a grâteful heart."

"Yöü may bê qυîte ŝūre of^uv that," sãid thé crôw fróm thé forést.

They now câme intö thé first håll, thé wållś of^uv which were hung with rôśe-cőloŕed satín embroidered with artífićiál flõwerś. Hėŕe thé dreamś ágãin flittėd bŷ them, but sô qυicklý that Gerdá cōūld not distiñgυish thé royál persónś. Each håll áppėaŕed more splendíd than thé last. It wáś^woś enough^ėnouf tó^tö bėwilder one^wőne. At length they reached a bedrööm. Thé çêiling wáś^woś lîke a greât pālm tree, with glass leaveś of^uv thé môst costlý crẏstál, and ôver thé çenter of^uv thé floor twö bedś, each rėśembling a lilý, hung fróm a stem of^uv gôld. One^wőne, in which thé prinçess lay, wáś^woś whîte; thé őther wáś^woś red. And in this Gerdá had tó^tö seek for little Kay.

Shê pūshed one^wőne of^uv thé red leaveś ásîde and saw a little brõwn neck. Ôh, that must bê Kay! Shê cålled hiś nâme loudlý and held thé lamp ôver him. Thé dreamś rushed back intö thé rööm on horseback. Hê wôke and turned hiś head round—it wáś^woś not little Kay! Thé prinçe wáś^woś ônlý lîke him; still hê wáś^woś young and prėttý. Out of^uv her whîte-lilý bed peeped thé prinçess, and asked whåt wáś^woś thé matter. Little Gerdá wept and tôld her storý, and åll that thé crôwś had dőne tó^tö help her.

"Yöü pōōr chîld," sãid thé prinçe and prinçess; then they praiśed thé crôwś, and sãid they were not añgrý with them for whåt they had dőne, but that it must not happén ágãin, and that this tîme they shōūld bê rėwårdėd.

"Wōūld yöü lîke tó^tö have yøur freedóm?" asked thé prinçess, "or wōūld yöü prėfer tó^tö bê raiśed tó^tö thé póśition of^uv cøurt crôwś, with åll that iś left in thé kitchén for yøurselveś?"

Then bôth thé crôwś bowed and begged tó^tö have a fixed áppointmént; for they thøught of^uv their ôld âĝe, and it wōūld bê sô cómfoŕtáble, they sãid, tó^tö feel that they had mâde próviŝión for it.

And then thé prinçe got out of^uv hiś bed and gâve it up tó^tö Gerdá—hê cōūld not dö more—and shê lay down. Shê fôldėd her little handś and thøught, "How gōōd everýbodý iś tó^tö mê, bôth men and anímálś"; then shê clôśed her eŷeś and fell intö a sweet sleep. Åll thé dreamś câme flŷing back ágãin tó^tö her, lōōking lîke ânĝélś now, and one^wőne of^uv them drew a little sledĝe, on which sat Kay, whö noddėd tó^tö her. But åll this wáś^woś ônlý a dream. It vanished aś söön aś shê áwôke.

Thé follôwing day shê wáś^woś dressed fróm head tó^tö fōōt in silk and velvét and invîtėd tó^tö stay at thé paláçe for a few dayś and ėnjoy herself; but shê ônlý begged for a pãir of^uv bööts and a little carriaĝe and a horse tó^tö draw it, sô that shê might gô out intö thé wîde woŕld tó^tö seek for Kay.

And shê óbtained not ônlý bööts but a muff, and wáś^woś neatlý dressed; and when shê wáś^woś readý tó^tö gô, theŕe at thé door shê found a coach mâde of^uv pûŕe gôld with thé coat of^uv armś of^uv thé prinçe and prinçess shîning upon it lîke a star, and thé coachmán, fōōtmán, and outrîderś åll weáring gôldén crownś upon their headś. Thé prinçe and prinçess themselveś helped her intö thé coach and wished her sucçess.

Thé forést crôw, whö wáś^woś now marriêd, áccőmpániêd her for thé first three mîleś; hê sat bŷ Gerdá's sîde, aś hê cōūld not beár rîding backwaŕdś. Thé tâme crôw stōōd in thé doorway flapping her wingś. Shê cōūld not gô with them, bėcauśe shê had bėen^been sufféring fróm headâche ever sinçe thé new áppointmént, nô doubt fróm ôvereating. Thé coach wáś^woś well stored with sweet câkes, and under thé seat were früit and ĝinĝerbread nuts.

"Fãrewell, fãrewell," crîed thé prinçe and prinçess, and little Gerdá wept, and thé crôw wept; and then, after a few mîleś, thé crôw ålsô sãid fãrewell, and this parting wáś^woś êvén more sad. However hê flew tó^tö a tree and stōōd flapping hiś black wingś aś long aś hê cōūld see thé coach, which glittered lîke a sunbeam.

FIFTH STORÝ

Thé coach drôve on thröügh a thick forést, wheŕe it lightėd up thé way lîke a torch and dazzled thé eŷeś of^uv sőme robberś, whö cōūld not beár tó^tö let it pass them unmólestėd.

"It iś gôld! it iś gôld!" crîed they, rushing forwaŕd and sêizing thé horsėś. Then they struck dead thé little jockêyś, thé coachmán, and thé fōōtmán, and pūlled little Gerdá out of^uv thé carriaĝe.

"Shê iś plump and prėttý. Shê haś bėen^been fed with thé kernélś of^uv nuts," sãid thé ôld robber wōmán, whö had a long bėaŕd, and eŷebrowś that hung ôver her eŷeś. "Shê iś aś gōōd aś a fattėd lamb; how nîçe shê will tâste!" and aś shê sãid this shê drew forth a shîning knîfe, that glittered horríblý. "Ôh!" screamed thé ôld wōmán at thé sâme mômént, for her ôwn daughter, whö held her back, had bittén her in thé ėaŕ. "Yöü naughtý girl," sãid thé mőther, and now shê had not tîme tó^tö kill Gerdá.

"Shê shall play with mê," sãid thé little robber girl. "Shê shall give mê her muff and her prėttý dress, and sleep with mê in mŷ bed." And then shê bit her mőther ágãin, and åll thé robberś lāughed^lāufed.

"Î will have a rîde in thé coach," sãid thé little robber girl, and shê wōūld have her ôwn way, for shê wáś^woś self-willed and obstínáte.

Shê and Gerdá seatėd themselveś in thé coach and drôve áway ôver stumps and stôneś, intö thé depths of^uv thé forést. Thé little robber girl wáś^woś ábout thé sâme sîze aś Gerdá, but stroñger; shê had brøader shôulderś and a darker skin; her eŷeś were qυîte black, and shê had a møurnful lōōk. Shê clasped little Gerdá round thé waist and sãid:

"They shall not kill yöü aś long aś yöü dôn't mâke mê vexed with yöü. Î suppôśe yöü are a prinçess."

"Nô," sãid Gerdá; and then shê tôld her åll her historý and how fond shê wáś^woś of^uv little Kay.

Thé robber girl lōōked eaŕnéstlý at her, noddėd her head slightlý, and sãid, "They shan't kill yöü êvén if Î dö get añgrý with yöü, for Î will dö it mŷself." And then shê wîped Gerdá's eŷeś and pūt her ôwn handś intö thé beaûtíful muff, which wáś^woś sô soft and wårm.

Thé coach stopped in thé cøurtyard of^uv a robber's castle, thé wållś of^uv which were fūll of^uv cracks fróm top tó^tö bottóm. Râvénś and crôwś flew in and out of^uv thé hôleś and crevíçėś, whîle greât būlldogś, each of^uv which lōōked aś if it cōūld swāllôw^swollôw a man, were jumping ábout; but they were not állowed tó^tö bark.

In thé larĝe ôld smôký håll a bright fîŕe wáś^woś burning on thé stône floor. Theŕe wáś^woś nô chimnêy, sô thé smôke went up tó^tö thé çêiling and found a way out for itself. Söüp wáś^woś boiling in a larĝe cauldron, and hãreś and rabbíts were roasting on thé spit.

"Yöü shall sleep with mê and åll mŷ little anímálś tó^tö-night," sãid thé robber girl after they had had sőmething tó^tö eat and driñk. Sô shê tōōk Gerdá tó^tö a corner of^uv thé håll wheŕe sőme straw and carpéts were laid down. Ábőve them, on laths and perchėś, were more than a hundred piĝeónś that åll seemed tó^tö bê ásleep, ålthôugh they möved slightlý when thé twö little girlś câme nėaŕ them. "Thêśe åll bėlong tó^tö mê," sãid thé robber girl, and shê sêized thé nėárést tó^tö her, held it bŷ thé feet, and shōōk it till it flapped its wingś. "Kiss it," crîed shê, flapping it in Gerdá's fâçe.

"Theŕe sit thé wōōd piĝeónś," cóntinûed shê, pointing tó^tö a number of^uv laths and a câĝe which had bėen^been fixed intö thé wållś, nėaŕ one^wőne of^uv thé ôpéningś. "Bôth rascálś wōūld flŷ áway dîrectlý, if they were not clôselý locked up. And hėŕe iś mŷ ôld sweetheart 'Ba,'" and shê dragged out a reindėer bŷ thé horn; hê wore a bright copper ring round hiś neck and wáś^woś tethered tó^tö thé spot. "Wê are óblîĝed tó^tö hôld him tight töö, else hê wōūld run áway fróm us ålsô. Î tickle hiś neck everý êvening with mŷ sharp knîfe, which frighténś him verý much." And thé robber girl drew a long knîfe fróm a chiñk in thé wåll and let it slîde ĝentlý ôver thé reindėer's neck. Thé pōōr anímál bėgan tó^tö kick, and thé little robber girl lāughed^lāufed and pūlled down Gerdá intö bed with her.

"Will yöü have that knîfe with yöü whîle yöü are ásleep?" asked Gerdá, lōōking at it in greât fright.

"Î ålwayś sleep with thé knîfe bŷ mê," sãid thé robber girl. "Nô one^wőne knôwś whåt may happén. But now tell mê ágãin åll ábout little Kay, and whŷ yöü went out intö thé woŕld."

Then Gerdá rėpeatėd her storý ôver ágãin, whîle thé wōōd piĝeónś in thé câĝe ôver her cööed, and thé őther piĝeónś slept. Thé little robber girl pūt one^wőne arm ácross Gerdá's neck, and held thé knîfe in thé őther, and wáś^woś söön fast ásleep and snoring. But Gerdá cōūld not clôśe her eŷeś at åll; shê knew not whether shê wáś^woś tó^tö live or tó^tö dîe. Thé robberś sat round thé fîŕe, singing and driñking. It wáś^woś a terríble sight for a little girl tó^tö witnéss.

Then thé wōōd piĝeónś sãid: "Cöö, cöö, wê have seen little Kay. A whîte fowl carriêd hiś sledĝe, and hê sat in thé carriaĝe of^uv thé Snôw Qυeen, which drôve thröügh thé wōōd whîle wê were lŷing in õυŕ nest. Shê blew upon us, and åll thé young ones^wőneś dîed, excepting us twö. Cöö, cöö."

"Whåt are yöü sâying up theŕe?" crîed Gerdá. "Wheŕe wáś^woś thé Snôw Qυeen gôing? Dö yöü knôw ãnýthing ábout it?"

"Shê wáś^woś môst lîkelý traveling tó^tö Lapland, wheŕe theŕe iś ålwayś snôw and îçe. Ask thé reindėer that iś fasténed up theŕe with a rôpe."

"Yes, theŕe iś ålwayś snôw and îçe," sãid thé reindėer, "and it iś a glorïoús plâçe; yöü can leap and run ábout freelý on thé sparkling îçý plainś. Thé Snôw Qυeen haś her summer tent theŕe, but her strong castle iś at thé North Pôle, on an îslánd cålled Spitzbergén."

"Ô Kay, little Kay!" sighed Gerdá.

"Lîe still," sãid thé robber girl, "or yöü shall feel mŷ knîfe."

In thé morning Gerdá tôld her åll that thé wōōd piĝeónś had sãid, and thé little robber girl lōōked qυîte sėrïoús, and noddėd her head and sãid: "That iś åll tålk, that iś åll tålk. Dö yöü knôw wheŕe Lapland iś?" shê asked thé reindėer.

"Whö shōūld knôw better than Î dö?" sãid thé anímál, whîle hiś eŷeś sparkled. "Î wáś^woś born and brøught up theŕe and ûśed tó^tö run ábout thé snôw-cővered plainś."

"Now listén," sãid thé robber girl; "åll õυŕ men are gone áway; ônlý mőther iś hėŕe, and hėŕe shê will stay; but at nöön shê ålwayś driñks out of^uv a greât bottle, and afterwaŕdś sleeps for a little whîle; and then Î'll dö sőmething for yöü." Shê jumped out of^uv bed, clasped her mőther round thé neck, and pūlled her bŷ thé bėaŕd, crŷing, "Mŷ ôwn little nanný goat, gōōd morning!" And her mőther pinched her nôśe till it wáś^woś qυîte red; yet shê did it åll for lőve.

When thé mőther had gone tó^tö sleep thé little robber maidén went tó^tö thé reindėer and sãid: "Î shōūld lîke verý much tó^tö tickle yøur neck a few tîmeś more with mŷ knîfe, for it mâkes yöü lōōk sô funný, but never mînd—Î will untîe yøur cord and set yöü free, sô that yöü may run áway tó^tö Lapland; but yöü must mâke gōōd ûse of^uv yøur legś and carrý this little maidén tó^tö thé castle of^uv thé Snôw Qυeen, wheŕe her playfellôw iś. Yöü have heaŕd whåt shê tôld mê, for shê spôke loud enough^ėnouf, and yöü were listéning."

Thé reindėer jumped for joy, and thé little robber girl liftėd Gerdá on hiś back and had thé forethøught tó^tö tîe her on and êvén tó^tö give her her ôwn little cūshión tó^tö sit upon.

"Hėŕe are yøur fur bööts for yöü," sãid shê, "for it will bê verý côld; but Î must keep thé muff, it iś sô prėttý. However, yöü shall not bê frôzén for thé want^wont of^uv it; hėŕe are mŷ mőther's larĝe wårm mitténś; they will reach up tó^tö yøur elbôwś. Let mê pūt them on. Theŕe, now yøur handś lōōk just lîke mŷ mőther's."

But Gerdá wept for joy.

"Î dôn't lîke tó^tö see yöü fret," sãid thé little robber girl. "Yöü øught tó^tö lōōk qυîte happý now. And hėŕe are twö loaveś and a ham, sô that yöü need not starve."

Thêśe were fasténed upon thé reindėer, and then thé little robber maidén ôpéned thé door, coaxed in åll thé greât dogś, cut thé string with which thé reindėer wáś^woś fasténed, with her sharp knîfe, and sãid, "Now run, but mînd yöü tâke gōōd cãŕe of^uv thé little girl." And Gerdá stretched out her hand, with thé greât mittén on it, tówård thé little robber girl and sãid "Fãrewell," and áway flew thé reindėer ôver stumps and stôneś, thröügh thé greât forést, ôver marshėś and plainś, aś qυicklý aś hê cōūld. Thé wōlveś howled and thé râvénś screamed, whîle up in thé skŷ qυivered red lights lîke flâmeś of^uv fîŕe. "Theŕe are mŷ ôld northern lights," sãid thé reindėer; "see how they flash!" And hê ran on day and night still faster and faster, but thé loaveś and thé ham were åll eatén bŷ thé tîme they reached Lapland.

SIXTH STORÝ

They stopped at a little hut; it wáś^woś verý mean lōōking. Thé rööf slôped nėaŕlý down tó^tö thé ground, and thé door wáś^woś sô lôw that thé famílý had tó^tö creep in on their handś and kneeś when they went in and out. Theŕe wáś^woś nô one^wőne at hôme but an ôld Lapland wōmán whö wáś^woś dressing fish bŷ thé light of^uv a train-oil lamp.

Thé reindėer tôld her åll ábout Gerdá's storý after having first tôld hiś ôwn, which seemed tó^tö him thé môst importánt. But Gerdá wáś^woś sô pinched with thé côld that shê cōūld not speak.

"Ôh, yöü pōōr thingś," sãid thé Lapland wōmán, "yöü have a long way tó^tö gô yet. Yöü must travél more than a hundred mîleś farther, tó^tö Finland. Thé Snôw Qυeen liveś theŕe now, and shê burnś Beñgál lights everý êvening. Î will wrîte a few woŕdś on a drîed stockfish, for Î have nô pâper, and yöü can tâke it fróm mê tó^tö thé Finland wōmán whö liveś theŕe. Shê can give yöü better infoŕmâtion than Î can."

Sô when Gerdá wáś^woś wårmed and had tâkén sőmething tó^tö eat and driñk, thé wōmán wrôte a few woŕdś on thé drîed fish and tôld Gerdá tó^tö tâke greât cãŕe of^uv it. Then shê tîed her ágãin on thé back of^uv thé reindėer, and hê sprang high intö thé ãir and set off at fūll speed. Flash, flash, went thé beaûtíful blüe northern lights thé whôle night long.

And at length they reached Finland and knocked at thé chimnêy of^uv thé Finland wōmán's hut, for it had nô door ábőve thé ground. They crept in, but it wáś^woś sô terríblý hot insîde that thé wōmán wore scãŕçelý ãný clôtheś. Shê wáś^woś småll and verý dirtý lōōking. Shê lööséned little Gerdá's dress and tōōk off thé fur bööts and thé mitténś, or Gerdá wōūld have bėen^been unâble tó^tö beár thé heat; and then shê plâçed a piêçe of^uv îçe on thé reindėer's head and read whåt wáś^woś writtén on thé drîed fish. After shê had read it three tîmeś shê knew it bŷ heart, sô shê popped thé fish intö thé söüp sauçepan, aś shê knew it wáś^woś gōōd tó^tö eat, and shê never wâstėd ãnýthing.

Thé reindėer tôld hiś ôwn storý first and then little Gerdá's, and thé Finlander twiñkled with her clever eŷeś, but sãid nőthing.

"Yöü are sô clever," sãid thé reindėer; "Î knôw yöü can tîe åll thé windś of^uv thé woŕld with a piêçe of^uv twîne. If a sailoŕ untîeś one^wőne knot, hê haś a fãir wind; when hê untîeś thé secónd, it blôwś hard; but if thé third and føurth are lööséned, then cőmeś a storm which will rööt up whôle forésts. Cannot yöü give this little maidén sőmething which will mâke her aś strong aś twelve men, tó^tö ôvercőme thé Snôw Qυeen?"

"Thé põwer of^uv twelve men!" sãid thé Finland wōmán. "That wōūld bê of^uv verý little ûse." But shê went tó^tö a shelf and tōōk down and unrôlled a larĝe skin on which were inscrîbed wőnderful charácterś, and shê read till thé perspírâtion ran down fróm her forehead.

But thé reindėer begged sô hard for little Gerdá, and Gerdá lōōked at thé Finland wōmán with such tender, tėaŕful eŷeś, that her ôwn eŷeś bėgan tó^tö twiñkle ágãin. Shê drew thé reindėer intö a corner and whispered tó^tö him whîle shê laid a fresh piêçe of^uv îçe on hiś head: "Little Kay iś rêallý with thé Snôw Qυeen, but hê fîndś everýthing theŕe sô much tó^tö hiś tâste and hiś lîking that hê bėliêveś it iś thé fînést plâçe in thé woŕld; and this iś bėcauśe hê haś a piêçe of^uv brôkén glass in hiś heart and a little splinter of^uv glass in hiś eŷe. Thêśe must bê tâkén out, or hê will never bê a hûmán bêing ágãin, and thé Snôw Qυeen will rėtain her põwer ôver him."

"But can yöü not give little Gerdá sőmething tó^tö help her tó^tö coñquer this põwer?"

"Î can give her nô greâter põwer than shê haś ålreadý," sãid thé wōmán; "dôn't yöü see how strong that iś? how men and anímálś are óblîĝed tó^tö serve her, and how well shê haś gottén thröügh thé woŕld, bãŕefōōtėd aś shê iś? Shê cannot réçêive ãný põwer fróm mê greâter than shê now haś, which cónsists in her ôwn pûritý and innóçénçe of^uv heart. If shê cannot herself óbtain acçess tó^tö thé Snôw Qυeen and rėmöve thé glass fragménts fróm little Kay, wê can dö nőthing tó^tö help her. Twö mîleś fróm hėŕe thé Snôw Qυeen's gardén bėginś. Yöü can carrý thé little girl sô far, and set her down bŷ thé larĝe būsh which standś in thé snôw, cővered with red berriêś. Dö not stay gossíping, but cőme back hėŕe aś qυicklý aś yöü can." Then thé Finland wōmán liftėd little Gerdá upon thé reindėer, and hê ran áway with her aś qυicklý aś hê cōūld.

"Ôh, Î have foŕgottén mŷ bööts and mŷ mitténś," crîed little Gerdá, aś söön aś shê felt thé cutting côld; but thé reindėer dãred not stop, sô hê ran on till hê reached thé būsh with thé red berriêś. Hėŕe hê set Gerdá down, and hê kissed her, and thé greât bright tėaŕś trickled ôver thé anímál's cheeks; then hê left her and ran back aś fast aś hê cōūld.

Theŕe stōōd pōōr Gerdá, without shöeś, without glőveś, in thé midst of^uv côld, drėárý, îçe-bound Finland. Shê ran forwaŕd aś qυicklý aś shê cōūld, when a whôle reĝímént of^uv snôwflâkes câme round her. They did not, however, fåll fróm thé skŷ, which wáś^woś qυîte clėaŕ and glittered with thé northern lights. Thé snôwflâkes ran álong thé ground, and thé nêarer they câme tó^tö her thé larĝer they áppėaŕed. Gerdá rėmembered how larĝe and beaûtíful they lōōked thröügh thé burning glass. But thêśe were rêallý larĝer and much more terríble, for they were álîve and were thé guardś of^uv thé Snôw Qυeen and had thé strânĝėst shâpes. Sőme were lîke greât porcûpîneś, őtherś lîke twistėd serpénts with their headś stretching out, and sőme few were lîke little fat beaŕś with their hãir bristled; but åll were dazzlinglý whîte, and åll were living snôwflâkes.

Little Gerdá rėpeatėd thé Lord's Prâyer, and thé côld wáś^woś sô greât that shê cōūld see her ôwn breath cőme out of^uv her mouth lîke steam, aś shê uttered thé woŕdś. Thé steam áppėaŕed tó^tö increase aś shê cóntinûed her prâyer, till it tōōk thé shâpe of^uv little ânĝélś, whö grew larĝer thé mômént they touched thé eaŕth. They åll wore helméts on their headś and carriêd spėaŕś and shiêldś. Their number cóntinûed tó^tö increase more and more, and bŷ thé tîme Gerdá had finished her prâyerś a whôle lêĝión stōōd round her. They thrust their spėaŕś intö thé terríble snôwflâkes sô that they shivered intö a hundred piêçėś, and little Gerdá cōūld gô forwaŕd with couráĝe and sâfetý. Thé ânĝélś strôked her handś and feet, sô that shê felt thé côld less aś shê hâsténed on tó^tö thé Snôw Qυeen's castle.

But now wê must see whåt Kay iś döing. In trüth hê thøught not of^uv little Gerdá, and least of^uv åll that shê cōūld bê standing at thé frőnt of^uv thé paláçe.

SEVÉNTH STORÝ

Thé wållś of^uv thé paláçe were formed of^uv driftėd snôw, and thé windôwś and doorś of^uv cutting windś. Theŕe were more than a hundred röömś in it, åll aś if they had bėen^been formed of^uv snôw blôwn tógether. Thé larĝést of^uv them ėxtendėd for severál mîleś. They were åll lightėd up bŷ thé vivid light of^uv thé aúrorá, and were sô larĝe and emptý, sô îçý côld and glittéring!

Theŕe were nô ámûśeménts hėŕe; not êvén a little beár's båll, when thé storm might have bėen^been thé mûśic, and thé beaŕś cōūld have dançed on their hînd legś and shôwn their gōōd mannerś. Theŕe were nô pleaśánt gâmeś of^uv snapdragón, or touch, nor êvén a gossíp ôver thé tea tâble for thé young-lâdý foxéś. Emptý, vast, and côld were thé hållś of^uv thé Snôw Qυeen.

Thé flickéring flâmeś of^uv thé northern lights cōūld bê plainlý seen, whether they rôśe high or lôw in thé heavénś, fróm everý part of^uv thé castle. In thé midst of^uv this emptý, endléss håll of^uv snôw wáś^woś a frôzén lâke, brôkén on its surfáçe intö a thouśánd formś; each piêçe rėśembled ánőther, bėcauśe each wáś^woś in itself perfect aś a woŕk of^uv art, and in thé çenter of^uv this lâke sat thé Snôw Qυeen when shê wáś^woś at hôme. Shê cålled thé lâke "Thé Mirroŕ of^uv Reaśón," and sãid that it wáś^woś thé best, and indeed thé ônlý one^wőne, in thé woŕld.

Little Kay wáś^woś qυîte blüe with côld,—indeed, ålmôst black,—but hê did not feel it; for thé Snôw Qυeen had kissed áway thé îçý shivéringś, and hiś heart wáś^woś ålreadý a lump of^uv îçe. Hê dragged sőme sharp, flat piêçėś of^uv îçe tó^tö and frô and plâçed them tógether in åll kîndś of^uv póśitionś, aś if hê wished tó^tö mâke sőmething out of^uv them—just aś wê trŷ tó^tö form vãrïoús figureś with little tabléts of^uv wōōd, which wê cåll a "Chînêśe puzzle." Kay's figureś were verý artistic; it wáś^woś thé îçý gâme of^uv reaśón at which hê played, and in hiś eŷeś thé figureś were verý rėmarkáble and of^uv thé highést importánçe; this ópinĩón wáś^woś ôwing tó^tö thé splinter of^uv glass still sticking in hiś eŷe. Hê cómpôśed mãný cómplête figureś, forming differént woŕdś, but theŕe wáś^woś one^wőne woŕd hê never cōūld manáĝe tó^tö form, ålthôugh hê wished it verý much. It wáś^woś thé woŕd "Ėternítý."

Thé Snôw Qυeen had sãid tó^tö him, "When yöü can fînd out this, yöü shall bê yøur ôwn master, and Î will give yöü thé whôle woŕld and a new pãir of^uv skâtes." But hê cōūld not áccomplish it.

"Now Î must hâstén áway tó^tö wårmer countriêś," sãid thé Snôw Qυeen. "Î will gô and lōōk intö thé black crâterś of^uv thé tops of^uv thé burning mountáinś, Etná and Vésüvïus, aś they are cålled. Î shall mâke them lōōk whîte, which will bê gōōd for them and for thé lemónś and thé grâpes." And áway flew thé Snôw Qυeen, leaving little Kay qυîte álône in thé greât håll which wáś^woś sô mãný mîleś in length. Hê sat and lōōked at hiś piêçėś of^uv îçe and wáś^woś thiñking sô deeplý and sat sô still that ãný one^wőne might have suppôśed hê wáś^woś frôzén.

Just at this mômént it happéned that little Gerdá câme thröügh thé greât door of^uv thé castle. Cutting windś were râĝing áround her, but shê offered up a prâyer, and thé windś sañk down aś if they were gôing tó^tö sleep. On shê went till shê câme tó^tö thé larĝe, emptý håll and caught sight of^uv Kay. Shê knew him dîrectlý; shê flew tó^tö him and threw her armś áround hiś neck and held him fast whîle shê ėxclaimed, "Kay, dėaŕ little Kay, Î have found yöü at last!"

But hê sat qυîte still, stiff and côld.

Then little Gerdá wept hot tėaŕś, which fell on hiś breast, and penétrâtėd intö hiś heart, and thawed thé lump of^uv îçe, and washed^woshed áway thé little piêçe of^uv glass which had stuck theŕe. Then hê lōōked at her, and shê sang:

Then Kay burst intö tėaŕś. Hê wept sô that thé splinter of^uv glass swam out of^uv hiś eŷe. Then hê recógnîzed Gerdá and sãid joyfullý, "Gerdá, dėaŕ little Gerdá, wheŕe have yöü bėen^been åll this tîme, and wheŕe have Î bėen^been?" And hê lōōked åll áround him and sãid, "How côld it iś, and how larĝe and emptý it åll lōōks," and hê clung tó^tö Gerdá, and shê lāughed^lāufed and wept for joy.

It wáś^woś sô pleaśing tó^tö see them that êvén thé piêçėś of^uv îçe dançed, and when they were tîred and went tó^tö lîe down they formed themselveś intö thé letterś of^uv thé woŕd which thé Snôw Qυeen had sãid hê must fînd out bėfore hê cōūld bê hiś ôwn master and have thé whôle woŕld and a pãir of^uv new skâtes.

Gerdá kissed hiś cheeks, and they bėcâme blööming; and shê kissed hiś eŷeś till they shoneyy lîke her ôwn; shê kissed hiś handś and feet, and hê bėcâme qυîte healthý and chėerful. Thé Snôw Qυeen might cőme hôme now when shê pleaśed, for theŕe stōōd hiś çertáintý of^uv freedóm, in thé woŕd shê wanted^wontéd, writtén in shîning letterś of^uv îçe.

Then they tōōk each őther bŷ thé hand and went forth fróm thé greât paláçe of^uv îçe. They spôke of^uv thé grandmőther and of^uv thé rôśėś on thé rööf, and aś they went on thé windś were at rest, and thé sun burst forth. When they árrîved at thé būsh with red berriêś, theŕe stōōd thé reindėer waiting for them, and hê had brøught ánőther young reindėer with him, whöśe shudderś were fūll, and thé childrén drañk her wårm milk and kissed her on thé mouth.

They carriêd Kay and Gerdá first tó^tö thé Finland wōmán, wheŕe they wårmed themselveś thóróughlý in thé hot rööm and had dîrecţionś ábout their journêy hôme. Next they went tó^tö thé Lapland wōmán, whö had mâde sőme new clôtheś for them and pūt their sleĩghś in order. Bôth thé reindėer ran bŷ their sîde and follôwed them aś far aś thé boundáriêś of^uv thé countrý, wheŕe thé first green leaveś were budding. And hėŕe they tōōk leave of^uv thé twö reindėer and thé Lapland wōmán, and åll sãid fãrewell.

Then birdś bėgan tó^tö twitter, and thé forést töö wáś^woś fūll of^uv green young leaveś, and out of^uv it câme a beaûtíful horse, which Gerdá rėmembered, for it wáś^woś one^wőne which had drawn thé gôldén coach. A young girl wáś^woś rîding upon it, with a shîning red cap on her head and pistólś in her belt. It wáś^woś thé little robber maidén, whö had got tîred of^uv stâying at hôme; shê wáś^woś gôing first tó^tö thé north, and if that did not süit her, shê meant tó^tö trŷ sőme őther part of^uv thé woŕld. Shê knew Gerdá dîrectlý, and Gerdá rėmembered her; it wáś^woś a joyful meeting.

"Yöü are a fîne fellôw tó^tö gô gadding ábout in this way," sãid shê tó^tö little Kay. "Î shōūld lîke tó^tö knôw whether yöü dėśerve that ãný one^wőne shōūld gô tó^tö thé end of^uv thé woŕld tó^tö fînd yöü."

But Gerdá pattėd her cheeks and asked after thé prinçe and prinçess.

"They are gone tó^tö foréign countriêś," sãid thé robber girl.

"And thé crôw?" asked Gerdá.

"Ôh, thé crôw iś dead," shê rėplîed. "Hiś tâme sweetheart iś now a widôw and weaŕś a bit of^uv black woŕstėd round her leg. Shê møurnś verý pitifullý, but it iś åll stuff. But now tell mê how yöü manáĝed tó^tö get him back."

Then Gerdá and Kay tôld her åll ábout it.

"Snip, snap, snurre! it's åll right at last," sãid thé robber girl.

Shê tōōk bôth their handś and promísed that if ever shê shōūld pass thröügh thé town, shê wōūld cåll and pay them a viśit. And then shê rôde áway intö thé wîde woŕld.

But Gerdá and Kay went hand in hand tówård hôme, and aś they ádvançed, spring áppėaŕed more lővelý with its green verdure and its beaûtíful flõwerś. Verý söön they recógnîzed thé larĝe town wheŕe they lived, and thé tåll steeple of^uv thé churchėś in which thé sweet bellś were ringing a merrý peal, aś they entered it and found their way tó^tö their grandmőther's door.

They went upstãirś intö thé little rööm, wheŕe åll lōōked just aś it ûśed tó^tö dö. Thé ôld clock wáś^woś gôing "Tick, tick," and thé handś pointėd tó^tö thé tîme of^uv day, but aś they passed thröügh thé door intö thé rööm they perçêived that they were bôth grôwn up and bėcőme a man and wōmán. Thé rôśėś out on thé rööf were in fūll blööm and peeped in at thé windôw, and theŕe stōōd thé little chãirś on which they had sat when childrén, and Kay and Gerdá seatėd themselveś each on their ôwn chãir and held each őther bŷ thé hand, whîle thé côld, emptý grandëur of^uv thé Snôw Qυeen's paláçe vanished fróm their memóriêś lîke a painful dream.

Thé grandmőther sat in God's bright sunshîne, and shê read áloud fróm thé Bîble, "Ėxcept yê bėcőme aś little childrén, yê shall in nô wîśe enter intö thé kingdóm of^uv God." And Kay and Gerdá lōōked intö each őther's eŷeś and åll at őnçe^wőnçe understōōd thé woŕdś of^uv thé ôld song: