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dried fish。 After she had read it three times； she knew it by heart；
so she popped the fish into the soup saucepan； as she knew it was good
to eat； and she never wasted anything。 The reindeer told his own story
first； and then little Gerda's； and the Finlander twinkled with her
clever eyes； but she said nothing。 〃You are so clever；〃 said the
reindeer； 〃I know you can tie all the winds of the world with a
piece of twine。 If a sailor unties one knot； he has a fair wind；
when he unties the second； it blows hard； but if the third and
fourth are loosened； then comes a storm； which will root up whole
forests。 Cannot you give this little maiden something which will
make her as strong as twelve men； to overcome the Snow Queen？〃
〃The Power of twelve men！〃 said the Finland woman； 〃that would
be of very little use。〃 But she went to a shelf and took down and
unrolled a large skin； on which were inscribed wonderful characters；
and she read till the perspiration ran down from her forehead。 But the
reindeer begged so hard for little Gerda； and Gerda looked at the
Finland woman with such beseeching tearful eyes； that her own eyes
began to twinkle again； so she drew the reindeer into a corner； and
whispered to him while she laid a fresh piece of ice on his head；
〃Little Kay is really with the Snow Queen； but he finds everything
there so much to his taste and his liking； that he believes it is
the finest place in the world； but this is because he has a piece of
broken glass in his heart； and a little piece of glass in his eye。
These must be taken out； or he will never be a human being again；
and the Snow Queen will retain her power over him。〃
〃But can you not give little Gerda something to help her to
conquer this power？〃
〃I can give her no greater power than she has already；〃 said the
woman； 〃don't you see how strong that is？ How men and animals are
obliged to serve her； and how well she has got through the world；
barefooted as she is。 She cannot receive any power from me greater
than she now has； which consists in her own purity and innocence of
heart。 If she cannot herself obtain access to the Snow Queen； and
remove the glass fragments from little Kay； we can do nothing to
help her。 Two miles from here the Snow Queen's garden begins； you
can carry the little girl so far； and set her down by the large bush
which stands in the snow； covered with red berries。 Do not stay
gossiping； but come back here as quickly as you can。〃 Then the Finland
woman lifted little Gerda upon the reindeer； and he ran away with
her as quickly as he could。
〃Oh； I have forgotten my boots and my mittens；〃 cried little
Gerda； as soon as she felt the cutting cold； but the reindeer dared
not stop； so he ran on till he reached the bush with the red
berries； here he set Gerda down； and he kissed her； and the great
bright tears trickled over the animal's cheeks； then he left her and
ran back as fast as he could。
There stood poor Gerda； without shoes； without gloves； in the
midst of cold； dreary； ice…bound Finland。 She ran forwards as
quickly as she could； when a whole regiment of snow…flakes came
round her； they did not； however； fall from the sky； which was quite
clear and glittering with the northern lights。 The snow…flakes ran
along the ground； and the nearer they came to her； the larger they
appeared。 Gerda remembered how large and beautiful they looked through
the burning…glass。 But these were really larger； and much more
terrible； for they were alive； and were the guards of the Snow
Queen； and had the strangest shapes。 Some were like great
porcupines； others like twisted serpents with their heads stretching
out； and some few were like little fat bears with their hair bristled；
but all were dazzlingly white； and all were living snow…flakes。 Then
little Gerda repeated the Lord's Prayer； and the cold was so great
that she could see her own breath come out of her mouth like steam
as she uttered the words。 The steam appeared to increase； as she
continued her prayer； till it took the shape of little angels who grew
larger the moment they touched the earth。 They all wore helmets on
their heads； and carried spears and shields。 Their number continued to
increase more and more； and by the time Gerda had finished her
prayers； a whole legion stood round her。 They thrust their spears into
the terrible snow…flakes； so that they shivered into a hundred pieces；
and little Gerda could go forward with courage and safety。 The
angels stroked her hands and feet； so that she felt the cold less； and
she hastened on to the Snow Queen's castle。
But now we must see what Kay is doing。 In truth he thought not
of little Gerda； and never supposed she could be standing in the front
of the palace。
SEVENTH STORY
OF THE PALACE OF THE SNOW QUEEN
AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE AT LAST
The walls of the palace were formed of drifted snow； and the
windows and doors of the cutting winds。 There were more than a hundred
rooms in it； all as if they had been formed with snow blown
together。 The largest of them extended for several miles； they were
all lighted up by the vivid light of the aurora； and they were so
large and empty； so icy cold and glittering！ There were no
amusements here； not even a little bear's ball； when the storm might
have been the music； and the bears could have danced on their hind
legs； and shown their good manners。 There were no pleasant games of
snap…dragon； or touch； or even a gossip over the tea…table； for the
young…lady foxes。 Empty； vast； and cold were the halls of the Snow
Queen。 The flickering flame of the northern lights could be plainly
seen； whether they rose high or low in the heavens； from every part of
the castle。 In the midst of its empty； endless hall of snow was a
frozen lake； broken on its surface into a thousand forms； each piece
resembled another； from being in itself perfect as a work of art；
and in the centre of this lake sat the Snow Queen； when she was at
home。 She called the lake 〃The Mirror of Reason；〃 and said that it was
the best； and indeed the only one in the world。
Little Kay was quite blue with cold； indeed almost black； but he
did not feel it； for the Snow Queen had kissed away the icy
shiverings； and his heart was already a lump of ice。 He dragged some
sharp； flat pieces of ice to and fro； and placed them together in
all kinds of positions； as if he wished to make something out of them；
just as we try to form various figures with little tablets of wood
which we call 〃a Chinese puzzle。〃 Kay's fingers were very artistic； it
was the icy game of reason at which he played； and in his eyes the
figures were very remarkable； and of the highest importance； this
opinion was owing to the piece of glass still sticking in his eye。
He composed many complete figures； forming different words； but
there was one word he never could manage to form； although he wished
it very much。 It was the word 〃Eternity。〃 The Snow Queen had said to
him； 〃When you can find out this； you shall be your own master； and
I will give you the whole world and a new pair of skates。〃 But he
could not accomplish it。
〃Now I must hasten away to warmer countries；〃 said the Snow Queen。
〃I will go and look into the black craters of the tops of the
burning mountains； Etna and Vesuvius； as they are called；… I shall
make them look white； which will be good for them； and for the
lemons and the grapes。〃 And away flew the Snow Queen； leaving little
Kay quite alone in the great hall which was so many miles in length；
so he sat and looked at his pieces of ice； and was thinking so deeply；
and sat so still； that any one might have supposed he was frozen。
Just at this moment it happened that little Gerda came through the
great door of the castle。 Cutting winds were raging around her； but
she offered up a prayer and the winds sank down as if they were
going to sleep； and she went on till she came to the large empty hall；
and caught sight of Kay； she knew him directly； she flew to him and
threw her arms round his neck； and held him fast； while she exclaimed；
〃Kay； dear little Kay； I have found you at last。〃
But he sat quite still； stiff and cold。
Then little Gerda wept hot tears； which fell on his breast； and
penetrated into his heart； and thawed the lump of ice； and washed away
the little piece of glass which had stuck there。 Then he looked at
her； and she sang…
〃Roses bloom and cease to be；
But we shall the Christ…child see。〃
Then Kay burst into tears； and he wept so that the splinter of
glass swam out of his eye。 Then he recognized Gerda； and said；
joyfully； 〃Gerda； dear little Gerda； where have you been all this
time； and where have I been？〃 And he looked all around him； and
said； 〃How cold it is； and how large and empty it all looks；〃 and he
clung to Gerda； and she laughed and wept for joy。 It was so pleasing
to see them that the pieces of ice even danced about； and when they
were tired and wen