the snow queen in seven stories-第9章

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young　reindeer　with　him；　whose　udders　were　full；　and　the　children

drank　her　warm　milk　and　kissed　her　on　the　mouth。　Then　they　carried　Kay

and　Gerda　first　to　the　Finland　woman；　where　they　warmed　themselves

thoroughly　in　the　hot　room；　and　she　gave　them　directions　about　their

journey　home。　Next　they　went　to　the　Lapland　woman；　who　had　made　some

new　clothes　for　them；　and　put　their　sleighs　in　order。　Both　the

reindeer　ran　by　their　side；　and　followed　them　as　far　as　the　boundaries

of　the　country；　where　the　first　green　leaves　were　budding。　And　here

they　took　leave　of　the　two　reindeer　and　the　Lapland　woman；　and　all

said…　Farewell。　Then　the　birds　began　to　twitter；　and　the　forest　too

was　full　of　green　young　leaves；　and　out　of　it　came　a　beautiful

horse；　which　Gerda　remembered；　for　it　was　one　which　had　drawn　the

golden　coach。　A　young　girl　was　riding　upon　it；　with　a　shining　red

cap　on　her　head；　and　pistols　in　her　belt。　It　was　the　little

robber…maiden；　who　had　got　tired　of　staying　at　home；　she　was　going

first　to　the　north；　and　if　that　did　not　suit　her；　she　meant　to　try

some　other　part　of　the　world。　She　knew　Gerda　directly；　and　Gerda

remembered　her：　it　was　a　joyful　meeting。

　　　　〃You　are　a　fine　fellow　to　go　gadding　about　in　this　way；〃　said

she　to　little　Kay；　〃I　should　like　to　know　whether　you　deserve　that　any

one　should　go　to　the　end　of　the　world　to　find　you。〃

　　　　But　Gerda　patted　her　cheeks；　and　asked　after　the　prince　and

princess。

　　　　〃They　are　gone　to　foreign　countries；〃　said　the　robber…girl。

　　　　〃And　the　crow？〃　asked　Gerda。

　　　　〃Oh；　the　crow　is　dead；〃　she　replied；　〃his　tame　sweetheart　is　now　a

widow；　and　wears　a　bit　of　black　worsted　round　her　leg。　She　mourns　very

pitifully；　but　it　is　all　stuff。　But　now　tell　me　how　you　managed　to　get

him　back。〃

　　　　Then　Gerda　and　Kay　told　her　all　about　it。

　　　　〃Snip；　snap；　snare！　it's　all　right　at　last；〃　said　the　robber…girl。

　　　　Then　she　took　both　their　hands；　and　promised　that　if　ever　she

should　pass　through　the　town；　she　would　call　and　pay　them　a　visit。　And

then　she　rode　away　into　the　wide　world。　But　Gerda　and　Kay　went

hand…in…hand　towards　home；　and　as　they　advanced；　spring　appeared

more　lovely　with　its　green　verdure　and　its　beautiful　flowers。　Very

soon　they　recognized　the　large　town　where　they　lived；　and　the　tall

steeples　of　the　churches；　in　which　the　sweet　bells　were　ringing　a

merry　peal　as　they　entered　it；　and　found　their　way　to　their

grandmother's　door。　They　went　upstairs　into　the　little　room；　where　all

looked　just　as　it　used　to　do。　The　old　clock　was　going　〃tick；　tick；〃

and　the　hands　pointed　to　the　time　of　day；　but　as　they　passed　through

the　door　into　the　room　they　perceived　that　they　were　both　grown　up；

and　become　a　man　and　woman。　The　roses　out　on　the　roof　were　in　full

bloom；　and　peeped　in　at　the　window；　and　there　stood　the　little　chairs；

on　which　they　had　sat　when　children；　and　Kay　and　Gerda　seated

themselves　each　on　their　own　chair；　and　held　each　other　by　the　hand；

while　the　cold　empty　grandeur　of　the　Snow　Queen's　palace　vanished　from

their　memories　like　a　painful　dream。　The　grandmother　sat　in　God's

bright　sunshine；　and　she　read　aloud　from　the　Bible；　〃Except　ye

become　as　little　children；　ye　shall　in　no　wise　enter　into　the

kingdom　of　God。〃　And　Kay　and　Gerda　looked　into　each　other's　eyes；

and　all　at　once　understood　the　words　of　the　old　song；



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Roses　bloom　and　cease　to　be；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　But　we　shall　the　Christ…child　see。〃



And　they　both　sat　there；　grown　up；　yet　children　at　heart；　and　it　was

summer；…　warm；　beautiful　summer。





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

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