安徒生童话-第187章
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oy could not see a hand's breadthbefore him； but still they drove on； then he suddenly loosened thecord so that the large sled might go on without him； but it was ofno use； his little carriage held fast； and away they went like thewind。 Then he called out loudly； but nobody heard him； while thesnow beat upon him； and the sledge flew onwards。 Every now and then itgave a jump as if it were going over hedges and ditches。 The boy wasfrightened； and tried to say a prayer； but he could remember nothingbut the multiplication table。
The snow…flakes became larger and larger； till they appearedlike great white chickens。 All at once they sprang on one side； thegreat sledge stopped； and the person who had driven it rose up。 Thefur and the cap； which were made entirely of snow； fell off； and hesaw a lady； tall and white； it was the Snow Queen。
〃We have driven well；〃 said she； 〃but why do you tremble？ here；creep into my warm fur。〃 Then she seated him beside her in the sledge；and as she wrapped the fur round him he felt as if he were sinkinginto a snow drift。
〃Are you still cold；〃 she asked； as she kissed him on theforehead。 The kiss was colder than ice； it went quite through to hisheart； which was already almost a lump of ice； he felt as if he weregoing to die； but only for a moment； he soon seemed quite wellagain； and did not notice the cold around him。
〃My sledge！ don't forget my sledge；〃 was his first thought； andthen he looked and saw that it was bound fast to one of the whitechickens； which flew behind him with the sledge at its back。 TheSnow Queen kissed little Kay again； and by this time he hadforgotten little Gerda； his grandmother； and all at home。
〃Now you must have no more kisses；〃 she said； 〃or I should kissyou to death。〃
Kay looked at her； and saw that she was so beautiful； he could notimagine a more lovely and intelligent face； she did not now seem to bemade of ice； as when he had seen her through his window； and she hadnodded to him。 In his eyes she was perfect； and she did not feel atall afraid。 He told her he could do mental arithmetic； as far asfractions； and that he knew the number of square miles and thenumber of inhabitants in the country。 And she always smiled so that hethought he did not know enough yet； and she looked round the vastexpanse as she flew higher and higher with him upon a black cloud；while the storm blew and howled as if it were singing old songs。They flew over woods and lakes； over sea and land； below them roaredthe wild wind； the wolves howled and the snow crackled； over them flewthe black screaming crows； and above all shone the moon； clear andbright；… and so Kay passed through the long winter's night； and by dayhe slept at the feet of the Snow Queen。
THIRD STORY
THE FLOWER GARDEN OF THE WOMAN
WHO COULD CONJURE
But how fared little Gerda during Kay's absence？ What had beeof him； no one knew； nor could any one give the slightest information；excepting the boys； who said that he had tied his sledge to anothervery large one； which had driven through the street； and out at thetown gate。 Nobody knew where it went； many tears were shed for him；and little Gerda wept bitterly for a long time。 She said she knew hemust be dead； that he was drowned in the river which flowed close bythe school。 Oh； indeed those long winter days were very dreary。 But atlast spring came； with warm sunshine。 〃Kay is dead and gone；〃 saidlittle Gerda。
〃I don't believe it；〃 said the sunshine。
〃He is dead and gone；〃 she said to the sparrows。
〃We don't believe it；〃 they replied； and at last little Gerdabegan to doubt it herself。 〃I will put on my new red shoes；〃 shesaid one morning； 〃those that Kay has never seen； and then I will godown to the river； and ask for him。〃 It was quite early when shekissed her old grandmother； who was still asleep； then she put onher red shoes； and went quite alone out of the town gates toward theriver。 〃Is it true that you have taken my little playmate away fromme？〃 said she to the river。 〃I will give you my red shoes if youwill give him back to me。〃 And it seemed as if the waves nodded to herin a strange manner。 Then she took off her red shoes； which sheliked better than anything else； and threw them both into the river；but they fell near the bank； and the little waves carried them back tothe land； just as if the river would not take from her what sheloved best； because they could not give her back little Kay。 But shethought the shoes had not been thrown out far enough。 Then she creptinto a boat that lay among the reeds； and threw the shoes again fromthe farther end of the boat into the water； but it was not fastened。And her movement sent it gliding away from the land。 When she saw thisshe hastened to reach the end of the boat； but before she could soit was more than a yard from the bank； and drifting away faster thanever。 Then little Gerda was very much frightened； and began to cry；but no one heard her except the sparrows； and they could not carry herto land； but they flew along by the shore； and sang； as if tofort her； 〃Here we are！ Here we are！〃 The boat floated with thestream； little Gerda sat quite still with only her stockings on herfeet； the red shoes floated after her； but she could not reach thembecause the boat kept so much in advance。 The banks on each side ofthe river were very pretty。 There were beautiful flowers； old trees；sloping fields； in which cows and sheep were grazing； but not a man tobe seen。 Perhaps the river will carry me to little Kay； thought Gerda；and then she became more cheerful； and raised her head； and lookedat the beautiful green banks； and so the boat sailed on for hours。At length she came to a large cherry orchard； in which stood a smallred house with strange red and blue windows。 It had also a thatchedroof； and outside were two wooden soldiers； that presented arms to heras she sailed past。 Gerda called out to them； for she thought theywere alive； but of course they did not answer； and as the boat driftednearer to the shore； she saw what they really were。 Then Gerdacalled still louder； and there came a very old woman out of the house；leaning on a crutch。 She wore a large hat to shade her from the sun；and on it were painted all sorts of pretty flowers。 〃You poor littlechild；〃 said the old woman； 〃how did you manage to e all thisdistance into the wide world on such a rapid rolling stream？〃 And thenthe old woman walked in the water； seized the boat with her crutch；drew it to land； and lifted Gerda out。 And Gerda was glad to feelherself on dry ground； although she was rather afraid of the strangeold woman。 〃e and tell me who you are；〃 said she； 〃and how came youhere。〃
Then Gerda told her everything； while the old woman shook herhead； and said； 〃Hem…hem；〃 and when she had finished； Gerda asked ifshe had not seen little Kay； and the old woman told her he had notpassed by that way； but he very likely would e。 So she told Gerdanot to be sorrowful； but to taste the cherries and look at theflowers； they were better than any picture…book； for each of themcould tell a story。 Then she took Gerda by the hand and led her intothe little house； and the old woman closed the door。 The windowswere very high； and as the panes were red； blue； and yellow； thedaylight shone through them in all sorts of singular colors。 On thetable stood beautiful cherries； and Gerda had permission to eat asmany as she would。 While she was eating them the old woman bedout her long flaxen ringlets with a golden b； and the glossycurls hung down on each side of the little round pleasant face；which looked fresh and blooming as a rose。 〃I have long been wishingfor a dear little maiden like you；〃 said the old woman； 〃and now youmust stay with me； and see how happily we shall live together。〃 Andwhile she went on bing little Gerda's hair； she thought less andless about her adopted brother Kay； for the old woman could conjure；although she was not a wicked witch； she conjured only a little forher own amusement； and now； because she wanted to keep Gerda。Therefore she went into the garden； and stretched out her crutchtowards all the rose…trees； beautiful though they were； and theyimmediately sunk into the dark earth； so that no one could tellwhere they had once stood。 The old woman was afr
