Снігова королева
The Little Robber Maiden
Besidethem,onlathsandperches,satnearlyahundredpigeons,allasleep,seemingly;butyettheymovedalittlewhentherobbermaidencame. "Theyareallmine,"saidshe,atthesametimeseizingonethatwasnexttoherbythelegsandshakingitsothatitswingsfluttered. "Kissit,"criedthelittlegirl,andflungthepigeoninGerda’sface."Upthereistherabbleofthewood,continuedshe,pointingtoseverallathswhichwerefastenedbeforeaholehighupinthewall; "that’stherabble;theywouldallflyawayimmediately,iftheywerenotwellfastenedin.AndhereismydearoldBac"; andshelaidholdofthehornsofareindeer,thathadabrightcopperringrounditsneck,andwastetheredtothespot."Weareobligedtolockthisfellowintoo,orhewouldmakehisescape. EveryeveningIticklehisneckwithmysharpknife;heissofrightenedatit!" andthelittlegirldrewforthalongknife,fromacrackinthewall,andletitglideovertheReindeer’sneck.Thepooranimalkicked;thegirllaughed,andpulledGerdaintobedwithher.
"Doyouintendtokeepyourknifewhileyousleep?"askedGerda;lookingatitratherfearfully.
"Ialwayssleepwiththeknife,"saidthelittlerobbermaiden."Thereisnoknowingwhatmayhappen.Buttellmenow,oncemore,allaboutlittleKay;andwhyyouhavestartedoffinthewideworldalone. "AndGerdarelatedall,fromtheverybeginning:theWood-pigeonscooedaboveintheircage,andtheothersslept. ThelittlerobbermaidenwoundherarmroundGerda’sneck,heldtheknifeintheotherhand,andsnoredsoloudthateverybodycouldhearher;butGerdacouldnotclosehereyes,forshedidnotknowwhethershewastoliveordie. Therobberssatroundthefire,sanganddrank;andtheoldfemalerobberjumpedaboutso, thatitwasquitedreadfulforGerdatoseeher.
