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the princess？〃
〃If I had not been a crow；〃 said he； 〃I would have married her
myself； although I am engaged。 He spoke just as well as I do； when I
speak the crows' language； so I heard from my tame sweetheart。 He
was quite free and agreeable and said he had not come to woo the
princess； but to hear her wisdom； and he was as pleased with her as
she was with him。〃
〃Oh； certainly that was Kay；〃 said Gerda； 〃he was so clever； he
could work mental arithmetic and fractions。 Oh； will you take me to
the palace？〃
〃It is very easy to ask that；〃 replied the crow； 〃but how are we
to manage it？ However； I will speak about it to my tame sweetheart；
and ask her advice； for I must tell you it will be very difficult to
gain permission for a little girl like you to enter the palace。〃
〃Oh； yes； but I shall gain permission easily；〃 said Gerda； 〃for
when Kay hears that I am here； he will come out and fetch me in
immediately。〃
〃Wait for me here by the palings；〃 said the crow； wagging his head
as he flew away。
It was late in the evening before the crow returned。 〃Caw； caw；〃
he said； she sends you greeting； and here is a little roll which she
took from the kitchen for you； there is plenty of bread there； and she
thinks you must be hungry。 It is not possible for you to enter the
palace by the front entrance。 The guards in silver uniform and the
servants in gold livery would not allow it。 But do not cry； we will
manage to get you in； my sweetheart knows a little back…staircase that
leads to the sleeping apartments； and she knows where to find the
key。〃
Then they went into the garden through the great avenue； where the
leaves were falling one after another； and they could see the light in
the palace being put out in the same manner。 And the crow led little
Gerda to the back door； which stood ajar。 Oh！ how little Gerda's heart
beat with anxiety and longing； it was just as if she were going to
do something wrong； and yet she only wanted to know where little Kay
was。 〃It must be he；〃 she thought； 〃with those clear eyes； and that
long hair。〃 She could fancy she saw him smiling at her； as he used
to at home； when they sat among the roses。 He would certainly be
glad to see her； and to hear what a long distance she had come for his
sake； and to know how sorry they had been at home because he did not
come back。 Oh what joy and yet fear she felt！ They were now on the
stairs； and in a small closet at the top a lamp was burning。 In the
middle of the floor stood the tame crow； turning her head from side to
side； and gazing at Gerda； who curtseyed as her grandmother had taught
her to do。
〃My betrothed has spoken so very highly of you； my little lady；〃
said the tame crow； 〃your life…history； Vita； as it may be called；
is very touching。 If you will take the lamp I will walk before you。 We
will go straight along this way； then we shall meet no one。〃
〃It seems to me as if somebody were behind us；〃 said Gerda； as
something rushed by her like a shadow on the wall； and then horses
with flying manes and thin legs； hunters； ladies and gentlemen on
horseback； glided by her； like shadows on the wall。
〃They are only dreams；〃 said the crow； 〃they are coming to fetch
the thoughts of the great people out hunting。〃
〃All the better； for we shall be able to look at them in their
beds more safely。 I hope that when you rise to honor and favor； you
will show a grateful heart。〃
〃You may be quite sure of that；〃 said the crow from the forest。
They now came into the first hall； the walls of which were hung
with rose…colored satin； embroidered with artificial flowers。 Here the
dreams again flitted by them but so quickly that Gerda could not
distinguish the royal persons。 Each hall appeared more splendid than
the last； it was enought to bewilder any one。 At length they reached a
bedroom。 The ceiling was like a great palm…tree； with glass leaves
of the most costly crystal； and over the centre of the floor two beds；
each resembling a lily； hung from a stem of gold。 One； in which the
princess lay； was white； the other was red； and in this Gerda had to
seek for little Kay。 She pushed one of the red leaves aside； and saw a
little brown neck。 Oh； that must be Kay！ She called his name out quite
loud； and held the lamp over him。 The dreams rushed back into the room
on horseback。 He woke； and turned his head round； it was not little
Kay！ The prince was only like him in the neck； still he was young
and pretty。 Then the princess peeped out of her white…lily bed； and
asked what was the matter。 Then little Gerda wept and told her
story； and all that the crows had done to help her。
〃You poor child；〃 said the prince and princess； then they
praised the crows； and said they were not angry for what they had
done； but that it must not happen again； and this time they should
be rewarded。
〃Would you like to have your freedom？〃 asked the princess； 〃or
would you prefer to be raised to the position of court crows； with all
that is left in the kitchen for yourselves？〃
Then both the crows bowed； and begged to have a fixed appointment；
for they thought of their old age； and said it would be so comfortable
to feel that they had provision for their old days； as they called it。
And then the prince got out of his bed； and gave it up to Gerda；… he
could do no more； and she lay down。 She folded her little hands； and
thought； 〃How good everyone is to me； men and animals too；〃 then she
closed her eyes and fell into a sweet sleep。 All the dreams came
flying back again to her； and they looked like angels； and one of them
drew a little sledge； on which sat Kay； and nodded to her。 But all
this was only a dream； and vanished as soon as she awoke。
The following day she was dressed from head to foot in silk and
velvet； and they invited her to stay at the palace for a few days； and
enjoy herself； but she only begged for a pair of boots； and a little
carriage； and a horse to draw it； so that she might go into the wide
world to seek for Kay。 And she obtained； not only boots； but also a
muff； and she was neatly dressed； and when she was ready to go； there；
at the door； she found a coach made of pure gold； with the
coat…of…arms of the prince and princess shining upon it like a star；
and the coachman； footman； and outriders all wearing golden crowns
on their heads。 The prince and princess themselves helped her into the
coach； and wished her success。 The forest crow； who was now married；
accompanied her for the first three miles； he sat by Gerda's side；
as he could not bear riding backwards。 The tame crow stood in the
door…way flapping her wings。 She could not go with them； because she
had been suffering from headache ever since the new appointment； no
doubt from eating too much。 The coach was well stored with sweet
cakes； and under the seat were fruit and gingerbread nuts。
〃Farewell； farewell；〃 cried the prince and princess； and little
Gerda wept； and the crow wept； and then； after a few miles； the crow
also said 〃Farewell；〃 and this was the saddest parting。 However； he
flew to a tree； and stood flapping his black wings as long as he could
see the coach； which glittered in the bright sunshine。
FIFTH STORY
LITTLE ROBBER…GIRL
The coach drove on through a thick forest； where it lighted up the
way like a torch； and dazzled the eyes of some robbers； who could
not bear to let it pass them unmolested。
〃It is gold！ it is gold！〃 cried they； rushing forward； and seizing
the horses。 Then they struck the little jockeys； the coachman； and the
footman dead； and pulled little Gerda out of the carriage。
〃She is fat and pretty； and she has been fed with the kernels of
nuts；〃 said the old robber…woman； who had a long beard and eyebrows
that hung over her eyes。 〃She is as good as a little lamb； how nice
she will taste！〃 and as she said this； she drew forth a shining knife；
that glittered horribly。 〃Oh！〃 screamed the old woman the same moment；
for her own daughter； who held her back； had bitten her in the ear。
She was a wild and naughty girl； and the mother called her an ugly
thing； and had not time to kill Gerda。
〃She shall play with me；〃 said the little robber…girl； 〃she
shall give me her muff and her pretty dress； and sleep with me in my
bed。〃 And then she bit her mother again； and made her spring in the
air； and jump about； and all the robbers laughed； and said； 〃See how
she is dancing with her young cub。〃
〃I will have a ride in the coach；〃 said the little robber…girl；
and she would have her own way； for she was so self…willed and
obstinate。
She and Gerda seated themselves in the coach； and drove away； over
stumps and stones； into the depths of the forest。 The little
robber…girl was about the same size as Gerda； but stronger； she had
broader shoulders and a darker skin； her eyes were quite black； and
she had a mournful look。 She clasped little Gerda round the waist； and
said；…
〃They shall not kill you as long as you don't make us vexe