Снігова королева
Of the Flower-Garden At the Old Woman’s Who Unders
"Youmakemequitesad,"saidlittleGerda."Icannothelpthinkingofthedeadmaidens.Oh!islittleKayreallydead? TheRoseshavebeenintheearth,andtheysayno."
"Ding,dong!"soundedtheHyacinthbells."WedonottollforlittleKay;wedonotknowhim.Thatisourwayofsinging,theonlyonewehave."
AndGerdawenttotheRanunculuses,thatlookedforthfromamongtheshininggreenleaves.
"Youarealittlebrightsun!"saidGerda."TellmeifyouknowwhereIcanfindmyplayfellow."
AndtheRanunculusshonebrightly,andlookedagainatGerda.WhatsongcouldtheRanunculussing?ItwasonethatsaidnothingaboutKayeither.
"Inasmallcourtthebrightsunwasshininginthefirstdaysofspring.Thebeamsglideddownthewhitewallsofaneighbor’shouse,andclosebythefreshyellowflowersweregrowing,shininglikegoldinthewarmsun-rays. Anoldgrandmotherwassittingintheair;hergrand-daughter,thepoorandlovelyservantjustcomeforashortvisit.Sheknowshergrandmother.Therewasgold,purevirgingoldinthatblessedkiss. There,thatismylittlestory,"saidtheRanunculus.
"Mypooroldgrandmother!"sighedGerda."Yes,sheislongingforme,nodoubt:sheissorrowingforme,asshedidforlittleKay.ButIwillsooncomehome,andthenIwillbringKaywithme. Itisofnouseaskingtheflowers;theyonlyknowtheirownoldrhymes,andcantellmenothing." Andshetuckedupherfrock,toenablehertorunquicker;buttheNarcissusgaveheraknockontheleg,justasshewasgoingtojumpoverit.
