Снігова королева
The Prince and Princess
Shefoldedherlittlehandsandthought,"Howgoodmenandanimalsare!"andshethenfellasleepandsleptsoundly. Allthedreamsflewinagain,andtheynowlookedliketheangels;theydrewalittlesledge,inwhichlittleKaysatandnoddedhishead; butthewholewasonlyadream,andthereforeitallvanishedassoonassheawoke.
Thenextdayshewasdressedfromheadtofootinsilkandvelvet.Theyofferedtoletherstayatthepalace,andleadahappylife; butshebeggedtohavealittlecarriagewithahorseinfront,andforasmallpairofshoes;then,shesaid,shewouldagaingoforthinthewideworldandlookforKay.
Shoesandamuffweregivenher;shewas,too,dressedverynicely;andwhenshewasabouttosetoff,anewcarriagestoppedbeforethedoor.Itwasofpuregold,andthearmsofthePrinceandPrincessshonelikeastaruponit; thecoachman,thefootmen,andtheoutriders,foroutriderswerethere,too,allworegoldencrowns.ThePrinceandthePrincessassistedherintothecarriagethemselves,andwishedherallsuccess. TheRavenofthewoods,whowasnowmarried,accompaniedherforthefirstthreemiles.HesatbesideGerda,forhecouldnotbearridingbackwards;theotherRavenstoodinthedoorway,andflappedherwings; shecouldnotaccompanyGerda,becauseshesufferedfromheadachesinceshehadhadafixedappointmentandatesomuch. Thecarriagewaslinedinsidewithsugar-plums,andintheseatswerefruitsandgingerbread.
"Farewell!Farewell!"criedPrinceandPrincess; andGerdawept,andtheRavenwept.Thuspassedthefirstmiles;andthentheRavenbadeherfarewell,andthiswasthemostpainfulseparationofall. Heflewintoatree,andbeathisblackwingsaslongashecouldseethecarriage,thatshonefromafarlikeasunbeam.
