Снігова королева
The Little Robber Maiden
ThelittlerobbermaidenwasastallasGerda,butstronger,broader-shouldered,andofdarkcomplexion;hereyeswerequiteblack; theylookedalmostmelancholy.SheembracedlittleGerda,andsaid, "TheyshallnotkillyouaslongasIamnotdispleasedwithyou.Youare,doubtless,aPrincess?"
"No,"saidlittleGerda;whothenrelatedallthathadhappenedtoher,andhowmuchshecaredaboutlittleKay.
Thelittlerobbermaidenlookedatherwithaseriousair,noddedherheadslightly,andsaid, "Theyshallnotkillyou,evenifIamangrywithyou:thenIwilldoitmyself"; andshedriedGerda’seyes,andputbothherhandsinthehandsomemuff,whichwassosoftandwarm.
Atlengththecarriagestopped.Theywereinthemidstofthecourt-yardofarobber’scastle.Itwasfullofcracksfromtoptobottom; andoutoftheopeningsmagpiesandrookswereflying;andthegreatbull-dogs,eachofwhichlookedasifhecouldswallowaman,jumpedup,buttheydidnotbark,forthatwasforbidden.
Inthemidstofthelarge,old,smokinghallburntagreatfireonthestonefloor.Thesmokedisappearedunderthestones,andhadtoseekitsownegress.Inanimmensecaldronsoupwasboiling;andrabbitsandhareswerebeingroastedonaspit.
"Youshallsleepwithmeto-night,withallmyanimals,"saidthelittlerobbermaiden. Theyhadsomethingtoeatanddrink;andthenwentintoacorner,wherestrawandcarpetswerelying.
