Снігова королева
The Prince and Princess
Theycouldalltalkwellenoughwhentheywereoutinthestreet;butassoonastheycameinsidethepalacegates,andsawtheguardrichlydressedinsilver,andthelackeysingoldonthestaircase,andthelargeilluminatedsaloons,thentheywereabashed; andwhentheystoodbeforethethroneonwhichthePrincesswassitting,alltheycoulddowastorepeatthelastwordtheyhaduttered,andtohearitagaindidnotinterestherverymuch. Itwasjustasifthepeoplewithinwereunderacharm,andhadfallenintoatrancetilltheycameoutagainintothestreet;forthen—oh,then—theycouldchatterenough.Therewasawholerowofthemstandingfromthetown-gatestothepalace. Iwastheremyselftolook,"saidtheRaven."Theygrewhungryandthirsty;butfromthepalacetheygotnothingwhatever,notevenaglassofwater. Someofthecleverest,itistrue,hadtakenbreadandbutterwiththem:butnoneshareditwithhisneighbor,foreachthought,’Lethimlookhungry,andthenthePrincesswon’thavehim."’
"ButKay—littleKay,"saidGerda,"whendidhecome?Washeamongthenumber?"
"Patience,patience;wearejustcometohim.Itwasonthethirddaywhenalittlepersonagewithouthorseorequipage,camemarchingrightboldlyuptothepalace;hiseyesshonelikeyours,hehadbeautifullonghair,buthisclotheswereveryshabby."
"ThatwasKay,"criedGerda,withavoiceofdelight."Oh,nowI’vefoundhim!"andsheclappedherhandsforjoy.
"Hehadalittleknapsackathisback,"saidtheRaven.
"No,thatwascertainlyhissledge,"saidGerda;"forwhenhewentawayhetookhissledgewithhim."
