don'tforgetmysledge,"washisfirstthought,andthenhelookedandsawthatitwasboundfasttooneofthewhitechickens,whichflewbehindhimwiththesledgeatitsback.thesnowqueenkissedlittlekayagain,andbythistimehehadforgottenlittlegerda,hisgrandmother,andallathome.

"nowyoumusthavenomorekisses,"shesaid,"orishouldkissyoutodeath."

kaylookedather,andsawthatshewassobeautiful,hecouldnotimagineamorelovelyandintelligentface;shedidnotnowseemtobemadeofice,aswhenhehadseenherthroughhiswindow,andshehadnoddedtohim.inhiseyesshewasperfect,andshedidnotfeelatallafraid.hetoldherhecoulddomentalarithmetic,asfarasfractions,andthatheknewthenumberofsquaremilesandthenumberofinhabitantsinthecountry.andshealwayssmiledsothathethoughthedidnotknowenoughyet,andshelookedroundthevastexpanseassheflewhigherandhigherwithhimuponablackcloud,whilethestormblewandhowledasifitweresingingoldyflewoverwoodsandlakes,overseaandland;belowthemroaredthewildwind;thewolveshowledandthesnowcrackled;overthemflewtheblackscreamingcrows,andaboveallshonethemoon,clearandbright,-andsokaypassedthroughthelongwinter'snight,andbydayhesleptatthefeetofthesnowqueen.

thirdstory

theflowergardenofthewoman

whocouldconjure

buthowfaredlittlegerdaduringkay'sabsence?whathadbecomeofhim,nooneknew,norcouldanyonegivetheslightestinformation,exceptingtheboys,whosaidthathehadtiedhissledgetoanotherverylargeone,whichhaddriventhroughthestreet,andoutatthetowngate.nobodyknewwhereitwent;manytearswereshedforhim,andlittlegerdaweptbitterlyforalongtime.shesaidsheknewhemustbedead;thathewasdrownedintheriverwhichflowedclosebytheschool.oh,indeedthoselongwinterdayswereverydreary.butatlastspringcame,withwarmsunshine."kayisdeadandgone,"saidlittlegerda.

"idon'tbelieveit,"saidthesunshine.

"heisdeadandgone,"shesaidtothesparrows.

"wedon'tbelieveit,"theyreplied;andatlastlittlegerdabegantodoubtitherself."iwillputonmynewredshoes,"shesaidonemorning,"thosethatkayhasneverseen,andtheniwillgodowntotheriver,andaskforhim."itwasquiteearlywhenshekissedheroldgrandmother,whowasstillasleep;thensheputonherredshoes,andwentquitealoneoutofthetowngatestowardtheriver."isittruethatyouhavetakenmylittleplaymateawayfromme?"saidshetotheriver."iwillgiveyoumyredshoesifyouwillgivehimbacktome."anditseemedasifthewavesnoddedtoherinastrangemanner.thenshetookoffherredshoes,whichshelikedbetterthananythingelse,andthrewthembothintotheriver,buttheyfellnearthebank,andthelittlewavescarriedthembacktotheland,justasiftheriverwouldnottakefromherwhatshelovedbest,becausetheycouldnotgiveherbacklittlekay.butshethoughttheshoeshadnotbeenthrownoutfarenough.thenshecreptintoaboatthatlayamongthereeds,andthrewtheshoesagainfromthefartherendoftheboatintothewater,butitwasnotdhermovementsentitglidingawayfromtheland.whenshesawthisshehastenedtoreachtheendoftheboat,butbeforeshecouldsoitwasmorethanayardfromthebank,anddriftingawayfasterthanever.thenlittlegerdawasverymuchfrightened,andbegantocry,butnooneheardherexceptthesparrows,andtheycouldnotcarryhertoland,buttheyflewalongbytheshore,andsang,asiftocomforther,"hereweare!