Снігова королева
What Took Place in the Palace of the Snow Queen, and what Happened Afterward
HereuponKayburstintotears;heweptsomuchthatthesplinterrolledoutofhiseye,andherecognisedher,andshouted, "Gerda,sweetlittleGerda!Wherehaveyoubeensolong?AndwherehaveIbeen?"
Helookedroundhim."Howcolditishere!"saidhe."Howemptyandcold!" AndheheldfastbyGerda,wholaughedandweptforjoy. Itwassobeautiful,thateventheblocksoficedancedaboutforjoy;andwhentheyweretiredandlaidthemselvesdown,theyformedexactlytheletterswhichtheSnowQueenhadtoldhimtofindout; sonowhewashisownmaster,andhewouldhavethewholeworldandapairofnewskatesintothebargain.
Gerdakissedhischeeks,andtheygrewquiteblooming;shekissedhiseyes,andtheyshonelikeherown;shekissedhishandsandfeet,andhewasagainwellandmerry. TheSnowQueenmightcomebackassoonassheliked;therestoodhisdischargewritteninresplendentmassesofice.
Theytookeachotherbythehand,andwanderedforthoutofthelargehall; theytalkedoftheiroldgrandmother,andoftherosesupontheroof;andwherevertheywent,thewindsceasedraging,andthesunburstforth. Andwhentheyreachedthebushwiththeredberries,theyfoundtheReindeerwaitingforthem. Hehadbroughtanother,ayoungone,withhim,whoseudderwasfilledwithmilk,whichhegavetothelittleones,andkissedtheirlips. TheythencarriedKayandGerda—firsttotheFinlandwoman,wheretheywarmedthemselvesinthewarmroom,andlearnedwhattheyweretodoontheirjourneyhome;andtheywenttotheLaplandwoman, whomadesomenewclothesforthemandrepairedtheirsledges.
