Снігова королева
The Lapland Woman and the Finland Woman
SheimmediatelyloosenedlittleGerda’sclothes,pulledoffherthickglovesandboots; forotherwisetheheatwouldhavebeentoogreat—andafterlayingapieceoficeontheReindeer’shead,readwhatwaswrittenonthefish-skin. Shereaditthreetimes:shethenknewitbyheart;sosheputthefishintothecupboard —foritmightverywellbeeaten,andsheneverthrewanythingaway.
ThentheReindeerrelatedhisownstoryfirst,andafterwardsthatoflittleGerda;andtheFinlandwomanwinkedhereyes,butsaidnothing.
"Youaresoclever,"saidtheReindeer;"youcan,Iknow,twistallthewindsoftheworldtogetherinaknot.Iftheseamanloosensoneknot, thenhehasagoodwind;ifasecond,thenitblowsprettystiffly;ifheundoesthethirdandfourth,thenitragessothattheforestsareupturned. Willyougivethelittlemaidenapotion,thatshemaypossessthestrengthoftwelvemen,andvanquishtheSnowQueen?"
"Thestrengthoftwelvemen!"saidtheFinlandwoman."Muchgoodthatwouldbe!" Thenshewenttoacupboard,anddrewoutalargeskinrolledup.Whenshehadunrolledit,strangecharactersweretobeseenwrittenthereon; andtheFinlandwomanreadatsucharatethattheperspirationtrickleddownherforehead.
ButtheReindeerbeggedsohardforlittleGerda,andGerdalookedsoimploringlywithtearfuleyesattheFinlandwoman,thatshewinked, anddrewtheReindeerasideintoacorner,wheretheywhisperedtogether,whiletheanimalgotsomefreshiceputonhishead.
