The Prince and Princess

           Gerdawasobligedtorestherselfagain,when,exactlyoppositetoher,alargeRavencamehoppingoverthewhitesnow.HehadlongbeenlookingatGerdaandshakinghishead;andnowhesaid, "Caw!Caw!"Goodday!Goodday! Hecouldnotsayitbetter;buthefeltasympathyforthelittlegirl,andaskedherwhereshewasgoingallalone. Theword"alone"Gerdaunderstoodquitewell,andfelthowmuchwasexpressedbyit;soshetoldtheRavenherwholehistory,andaskedifhehadnotseenKay. 

           TheRavennoddedverygravely,andsaid, "Itmaybe—itmaybe!" 

           "What,doyoureallythinkso?"criedthelittlegirl;andshenearlysqueezedtheRaventodeath,somuchdidshekisshim. 

           "Gently,gently,"saidtheRaven."IthinkIknow;IthinkthatitmaybelittleKay.ButnowhehasforgottenyouforthePrincess." 

           "DoeshelivewithaPrincess?"askedGerda. 

           "Yes—listen,"saidtheRaven;"butitwillbedifficultformetospeakyourlanguage. IfyouunderstandtheRavenlanguageIcantellyoubetter." 

           "No,Ihavenotlearntit,"saidGerda;"butmygrandmotherunderstandsit,andshecanspeakgibberishtoo.IwishIhadlearntit." 

           "Nomatter,"saidtheRaven;"IwilltellyouaswellasIcan;however,itwillbebadenough. "Andthenhetoldallheknew.