Снігова королева
The Prince and Princess
"Yes,yes;forcertainthatwasKay,"saidGerda."Hewassoclever;hecouldreckonfractionsinhishead.Oh,won’tyoutakemetothepalace?"
"Thatisveryeasilysaid,"answeredtheRaven."Buthowarewetomanageit?I’llspeaktomytamesweetheartaboutit:shemustadviseus;forsomuchImusttellyou,suchalittlegirlasyouarewillnevergetpermissiontoenter."
"Oh,yesIshall,"saidGerda;"whenKayhearsthatIamhere,hewillcomeoutdirectlytofetchme."
"Waitformehereonthesesteps,"saidtheRaven.Hemovedhisheadbackwardsandforwardsandflewaway.
TheeveningwasclosinginwhentheRavenreturned. "Caw—caw!"saidhe."Shesendsyouhercompliments;andhereisarollforyou.Shetookitoutofthekitchen,wherethereisbreadenough. Youarehungry,nodoubt.Itisnotpossibleforyoutoenterthepalace,foryouarebarefooted:theguardsinsilver,andthelackeysingold,wouldnotallowit; butdonotcry,youshallcomeinstill.Mysweetheartknowsalittlebackstairthatleadstothebedchamber,andsheknowswhereshecangetthekeyofit."
Andtheywentintothegardeninthelargeavenue,whereoneleafwasfallingaftertheother;andwhenthelightsinthepalacehadallgraduallydisappeared,theRavenledlittleGerdatothebackdoor,whichstoodhalfopen.
Oh,howGerda’sheartbeatwithanxietyandlonging!Itwasjustasifshehadbeenabouttodosomethingwrong;andyetsheonlywantedtoknowiflittleKaywasthere.Yes,hemustbethere.
