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Councillors and ambassadors walked about with bare feet； carrying
golden vessels； it was enough to make any one feel serious。 His
boots creaked loudly as he walked； and yet he was not at all uneasy。〃
〃It must be Kay；〃 said Gerda； 〃I know he had new boots on； I
have heard them creak in grandmother's room。〃
〃They really did creak；〃 said the crow； 〃yet he went boldly up
to the princess herself； who was sitting on a pearl as large as a
spinning wheel； and all the ladies of the court were present with
their maids； and all the cavaliers with their servants； and each of
the maids had another maid to wait upon her； and the cavaliers'
servants had their own servants； as well as a page each。 They all
stood in circles round the princess； and the nearer they stood to
the door； the prouder they looked。 The servants' pages； who always
wore slippers； could hardly be looked at； they held themselves up so
proudly by the door。〃
〃It must be quite awful；〃 said little Gerda； 〃but did Kay win
the princess？〃
〃If I had not been a crow；〃 said he； 〃I would have married her
myself； although I am engaged。 He spoke just as well as I do； when I
speak the crows' language； so I heard from my tame sweetheart。 He
was quite free and agreeable and said he had not come to woo the
princess； but to hear her wisdom； and he was as pleased with her as
she was with him。〃
〃Oh； certainly that was Kay；〃 said Gerda； 〃he was so clever； he
could work mental arithmetic and fractions。 Oh； will you take me to
the palace？〃
〃It is very easy to ask that；〃 replied the crow； 〃but how are we
to manage it？ However； I will speak about it to my tame sweetheart；
and ask her advice； for I must tell you it will be very difficult to
gain permission for a little girl like you to enter the palace。〃
〃Oh； yes； but I shall gain permission easily；〃 said Gerda； 〃for
when Kay hears that I am here； he will come out and fetch me in
immediately。〃
〃Wait for me here by the palings；〃 said the crow； wagging his head
as he flew away。
It was late in the evening before the crow returned。 〃Caw； caw；〃
he said； she sends you greeting； and here is a little roll which she
took from the kitchen for you； there is plenty of bread there； and she
thinks you must be hungry。 It is not possible for you to enter the
palace by the front entrance。 The guards in silver uniform and the
servants in gold livery would not allow it。 But do not cry； we will
manage to get you in； my sweetheart knows a little back…staircase that
leads to the sleeping apartments； and she knows where to find the
key。〃
Then they went into the garden through the great avenue； where the
leaves were falling one after another； and they could see the light in
the palace being put out in the same manner。 And the crow led little
Gerda to the back door； which stood ajar。 Oh！ how little Gerda's heart
beat with anxiety and longing； it was just as if she were going to
do something wrong； and yet she only wanted to know where little Kay
was。 〃It must be he；〃 she thought； 〃with those clear eyes； and that
long hair。〃 She could fancy she saw him smiling at her； as he used
to at home； when they sat among the roses。 He would certainly be
glad to see her； and to hear what a long distance she had come for his
sake； and to know how sorry they had been at home because he did not
come back。 Oh what joy and yet fear she felt！ They were now on the
stairs； and in a small closet at the top a lamp was burning。 In the
middle of the floor stood the tame crow； turning her head from side to
side； and gazing at Gerda； who curtseyed as her grandmother had taught
her to do。
〃My betrothed has spoken so very highly of you； my little lady；〃
said the tame crow； 〃your life…history； Vita； as it may be called；
is very touching。 If you will take the lamp I will walk before you。 We
will go straight along this way； then we shall meet no one。〃
〃It seems to me as if somebody were behind us；〃 said Gerda； as
something rushed by her like a shadow on the wall； and then horses
with flying manes and thin legs； hunters； ladies and gentlemen on
horseback； glided by her； like shadows on the wall。
〃They are only dreams；〃 said the crow； 〃they are coming to fetch
the thoughts of the great people out hunting。〃
〃All the better； for we shall be able to look at them in their
beds more safely。 I hope that when you rise to honor and favor； you
will show a grateful heart。〃
〃You may be quite sure of that；〃 said the crow from the forest。
They now came into the first hall； the walls of which were hung
with rose…colored satin； embroidered with artificial flowers。 Here the
dreams again flitted by them but so quickly that Gerda could not
distinguish the royal persons。 Each hall appeared more splendid than
the last； it was enought to bewilder any one。 At length they reached a
bedroom。 The ceiling was like a great palm…tree； with glass leaves
of the most costly crystal； and over the centre of the floor two beds；
each resembling a lily； hung from a stem of gold。 One； in which the
princess lay； was white； the other was red； and in this Gerda had to
seek for little Kay。 She pushed one of the red leaves aside； and saw a
little brown neck。 Oh； that must be Kay！ She called his name out quite
loud； and held the lamp over him。 The dreams rushed back into the room
on horseback。 He woke； and turned his head round； it was not little
Kay！ The prince was only like him in the neck； still he was young
and pretty。 Then the princess peeped out of her white…lily bed； and
asked what was the matter。 Then little Gerda wept and told her
story； and all that the crows had done to help her。
〃You poor child；〃 said the prince and princess； then they
praised the crows； and said they were not angry for what they had
done； but that it must not happen again； and this time they should
be rewarded。
〃Would you like to have your freedom？〃 asked the princess； 〃or
would you prefer to be raised to the position of court crows； with all
that is left in the kitchen for yourselves？〃
Then both the crows bowed； and begged to have a fixed appointment；
for they thought of their old age； and said it would be so comfortable
to feel that they had provision for their old days； as they called it。
And then the prince got out of his bed； and gave it up to Gerda；… he
could do no more； and she lay down。 She folded her little hands； and
thought； 〃How good everyone is to me； men and animals too；〃 then she
closed her eyes and fell into a sweet sleep。 All the dreams came
flying back again to her； and they looked like angels； and one of them
drew a little sledge； on which sat Kay； and nodded to her。 But all
this was only a dream； and vanished as soon as she awoke。
The following day she was dressed from head to foot in silk and
velvet； and they invited her to stay at the palace for a few days； and
enjoy herself； but she only begged for a pair of boots； and a little
carriage； and a horse to draw it； so that she might go into the wide
world to seek for Kay。 And she obtained； not only boots；