English
Suddenlytheystoppedbeforealittlehouse,whichlookedverymiserable.
Theroofreachedtotheground;andthedoorwassolow,thatthefamilywereobligedtocreepupontheirstomachswhentheywentinorout.
NobodywasathomeexceptanoldLaplandwoman,whowasdressingfishbythelightofanoillamp.
AndtheReindeertoldherthewholeofGerda'shistory,butfirstofallhisown;forthatseemedtohimofmuchgreaterimportance.
Gerdawassochilledthatshecouldnotspeak.
"Poorthing,"saidtheLaplandwoman,"youhavefartorunstill.
YouhavemorethanahundredmilestogobeforeyougettoFinland;theretheSnowQueenhashercountry–house,andburnsbluelightseveryevening.
Iwillgiveyouafewwordsfromme,whichIwillwriteonadriedhaberdine,forpaperIhavenone;thisyoucantakewithyoutotheFinlandwoman,andshewillbeabletogiveyoumoreinformationthanIcan."
WhenGerdahadwarmedherself,andhadeatenanddrunk,theLaplandwomanwroteafewwordsonadriedhaberdine,beggedGerdatotakecareofthem,putherontheReindeer,boundherfast,andawaysprangtheanimal."Ddsa!Ddsa!"
wasagainheardintheair;themostcharmingbluelightsburnedthewholenightinthesky,andatlasttheycametoFinland.
TheyknockedatthechimneyoftheFinlandwoman;forastoadoor,shehadnone.
TherewassuchaheatinsidethattheFinlandwomanherselfwentaboutalmostnaked.Shewasdiminutiveanddirty.
SheimmediatelyloosenedlittleGerda'sclothes,pulledoffherthickglovesandboots;forotherwisetheheatwouldhavebeentoogreat—andafterlayingapieceoficeontheReindeer'shead,readwhatwaswrittenonthefish–skin.
Shereaditthreetimes:shethenknewitbyheart;sosheputthefishintothecupboard—foritmightverywellbeeaten,andsheneverthrewanythingaway.
ThentheReindeerrelatedhisownstoryfirst,andafterwardsthatoflittleGerda;andtheFinlandwomanwinkedhereyes,butsaidnothing.
"Youaresoclever,"saidtheReindeer;"youcan,Iknow,twistallthewindsoftheworldtogetherinaknot.
Iftheseamanloosensoneknot,thenhehasagoodwind;ifasecond,thenitblowsprettystiffly;ifheundoesthethirdandfourth,thenitragessothattheforestsareupturned.
Willyougivethelittlemaidenapotion,thatshemaypossessthestrengthoftwelvemen,andvanquishtheSnowQueen?"
"Thestrengthoftwelvemen!"saidtheFinlandwoman."Muchgoodthatwouldbe!"
Thenshewenttoacupboard,anddrewoutalargeskinrolledup.
Whenshehadunrolledit,strangecharactersweretobeseenwrittenthereon;andtheFinlandwomanreadatsucharatethattheperspirationtrickleddownherforehead.
ButtheReindeerbeggedsohardforlittleGerda,andGerdalookedsoimploringlywithtearfuleyesattheFinlandwoman,thatshewinked,anddrewtheReindeerasideintoacorner,wheretheywhisperedtogether,whiletheanimalgotsomefreshiceputonhishead.
"'TistruelittleKayisattheSnowQueen's,andfindseverythingtherequitetohistaste;andhethinksittheverybestplaceintheworld;butthereasonofthatis,hehasasplinterofglassinhiseye,andinhisheart.
Thesemustbegotoutfirst;otherwisehewillnevergobacktomankind,andtheSnowQueenwillretainherpoweroverhim."
"ButcanyougivelittleGerdanothingtotakewhichwillendueherwithpoweroverthewhole?"
"Icangivehernomorepowerthanwhatshehasalready."Don'tyouseehowgreatitis?
Don'tyouseehowmenandanimalsareforcedtoserveher;howwellshegetsthroughtheworldbarefooted?
Shemustnothearofherpowerfromus;thatpowerliesinherheart,becausesheisasweetandinnocentchild!
IfshecannotgettotheSnowQueenbyherself,andridlittleKayoftheglass,wecannothelpher.
TwomileshencethegardenoftheSnowQueenbegins;thitheryoumaycarrythelittlegirl.
Setherdownbythelargebushwithredberries,standinginthesnow;don'tstaytalking,buthastenbackasfastaspossible."
AndnowtheFinlandwomanplacedlittleGerdaontheReindeer'sback,andoffheranwithallimaginablespeed.
"Oh!Ihavenotgotmyboots!Ihavenotbroughtmygloves!"criedlittleGerda.
Sheremarkedshewaswithoutthemfromthecuttingfrost;buttheReindeerdarednotstandstill;onherantillhecametothegreatbushwiththeredberries,andtherehesetGerdadown,kissedhermouth,whilelargebrighttearsflowedfromtheanimal'seyes,andthenbackhewentasfastaspossible.
TherestoodpoorGerdanow,withoutshoesorgloves,intheverymiddleofdreadfulicyFinland.
Sheranonasfastasshecould.Therethencameawholeregimentofsnow–flakes,buttheydidnotfallfromabove,andtheywerequitebrightandshiningfromtheAuroraBorealis.
Theflakesranalongtheground,andthenearertheycamethelargertheygrew.
Gerdawellrememberedhowlargeandstrangethesnow–flakesappearedwhensheoncesawthemthroughamagnifying–glass;butnowtheywerelargeandterrificinanothermanner—theywereallalive.
TheyweretheoutpostsoftheSnowQueen.
Theyhadthemostwondrousshapes;somelookedlikelargeuglyporcupines;otherslikesnakesknottedtogether,withtheirheadsstickingout;andothers,again,likesmallfatbears,withthehairstandingonend:allwereofdazzlingwhiteness—allwerelivingsnow–flakes.
LittleGerdarepeat~dtheLord'sPrayer.
Thecoldwassointensethatshecouldseeherownbreath,whichcamelikesmokeoutofhermouth.
Itgrewthickerandthicker,andtooktheformoflittleangels,thatgrewmoreandmorewhentheytouchedtheearth.
Allhadhelmsontheirheads,andlancesandshieldsintheirhands;theyincreasedinnumbers;andwhenGerdahadfinishedtheLord'sPrayer,shewassurroundedbyawholelegion.
Theythrustatthehorridsnow–flakeswiththeirspears,sothattheyflewintoathousandpieces;andlittleGerdawalkedonbravelyandinsecurity.
Theangelspattedherhandsandfeet;andthenshefeltthecoldless,andwentonquicklytowardsthepalaceoftheSnowQueen.
ButnowweshallseehowKayfared.HeneverthoughtofGerda,andleastofallthatshewasstandingbeforethepalace.
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