criedthelittlegirl;andthen,whenhesawhowfrightenedshewas,hetoreoffanotherrose,andjumpedthroughhisownwindowawayfromlittlegerda.

whensheafterwardsbroughtoutthepicturebook,hesaid,"itwasonlyfitforbabiesinlongclothes,"andwhengrandmothertoldanystories,hewouldinterruptherwith"but;"or,whenhecouldmanageit,hewouldgetbehindherchair,putonapairofspectacles,andimitateherverycleverly,tomakepeoplelaugh.by-and-byhebegantomimicthespeechandgaitofpersonsinthestreet.allthatwaspeculiarordisagreeableinapersonhewouldimitatedirectly,andpeoplesaid,"thatboywillbeveryclever;hehasaremarkablegenius."butitwasthepieceofglassinhiseye,andthecoldnessinhisheart,thatmadehimactlikethis.hewouldeventeaselittlegerda,wholovedhimwithallherheart.hisgames,too,werequitedifferent;theywerenotsochildish.onewinter'sday,whenitsnowed,hebroughtoutaburning-glass,thenheheldoutthetailofhisbluecoat,andletthesnow-flakesfalluponit."lookinthisglass,gerda,"saidhe;andshesawhoweveryflakeofsnowwasmagnified,andlookedlikeabeautifulfloweroraglitteringstar."isitnotclever?"saidkay,"andmuchmoreinterestingthanlookingatrealflowers.thereisnotasinglefaultinit,andthesnow-flakesarequiteperfecttilltheybegintomelt."

soonafterkaymadehisappearanceinlargethickgloves,andwithhissledgeathisback.hecalledupstairstogerda,"i'vegottoleavetogointothegreatsquare,wheretheotherboysplayandride."andawayhewent.

inthegreatsquare,theboldestamongtheboyswouldoftentietheirsledgestothecountrypeople'scarts,andgowiththemagoodway.thiswascapital.butwhiletheywereallamusingthemselves,andkaywiththem,agreatsledgecameby;itwaspaintedwhite,andinitsatsomeonewrappedinaroughwhitefur,andwearingawhitesledgedrovetwiceroundthesquare,andkayfastenedhisownlittlesledgetoit,sothatwhenitwentaway,hefollowedwithwentfasterandfasterrightthroughthenextstreet,andthenthepersonwhodroveturnedroundandnoddedpleasantlytokay,justasiftheywereacquaintedwitheachother,butwheneverkaywishedtoloosenhislittlesledgethedrivernoddedagain,sokaysatstill,andtheydroveoutthroughthetowngate.thenthesnowbegantofallsoheavilythatthelittleboycouldnotseeahand'sbreadthbeforehim,butstilltheydroveon;thenhesuddenlyloosenedthecordsothatthelargesledmightgoonwithouthim,butitwasofnouse,hislittlecarriageheldfast,andawaytheywentlikethewind.thenhecalledoutloudly,butnobodyheardhim,whilethesnowbeatuponhim,andthesledgeflewonwards.everynowandthenitgaveajumpasifitweregoingoverhedgesandditches.theboywasfrightened,andtriedtosayaprayer,buthecouldremembernothingbutthemultiplicationtable.

thesnow-flakesbecamelargerandlarger,tilltheyappearedlikegreatwhitechickens.allatoncetheysprangononeside,thegreatsledgestopped,andthepersonwhohaddrivenitroseup.thefurandthecap,whichweremadeentirelyofsnow,felloff,andhesawalady,tallandwhite,itwasthesnowqueen.

"wehavedrivenwell,"saidshe,"butwhydoyoutremble?here,creepintomywarmfur."thensheseatedhimbesideherinthesledge,andasshewrappedthefurroundhimhefeltasifheweresinkingintoasnowdrift.

"areyoustillcold,"sheasked,asshekissedhimontheforehead.thekisswascolderthanice;itwentquitethroughtohisheart,whichwasalreadyalmostalumpofice;hefeltasifheweregoingtodie,butonlyforamoment;hesoonseemedquitewellagain,anddidnotnoticethecoldaroundhim.

"mysledge!