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〃Oh； yes； but I shall gain permission easily；〃 said Gerda； 〃forwhen Kay hears that I am here； he will e out and fetch me inimmediately。〃
〃Wait for me here by the palings；〃 said the crow； wagging his headas he flew away。
It was late in the evening before the crow returned。 〃Caw； caw；〃he said； she sends you greeting； and here is a little roll which shetook from the kitchen for you； there is plenty of bread there； and shethinks you must be hungry。 It is not possible for you to enter thepalace by the front entrance。 The guards in silver uniform and theservants in gold livery would not allow it。 But do not cry； we willmanage to get you in； my sweetheart knows a little back…staircase thatleads to the sleeping apartments； and she knows where to find thekey。〃
Then they went into the garden through the great avenue； where theleaves were falling one after another； and they could see the light inthe palace being put out in the same manner。 And the crow led littleGerda to the back door； which stood ajar。 Oh！ how little Gerda's heartbeat with anxiety and longing； it was just as if she were going todo something wrong； and yet she only wanted to know where little Kaywas。 〃It must be he；〃 she thought； 〃with those clear eyes； and thatlong hair。〃 She could fancy she saw him smiling at her； as he usedto at home； when they sat among the roses。 He would certainly beglad to see her； and to hear what a long distance she had e for hissake； and to know how sorry they had been at home because he did note back。 Oh what joy and yet fear she felt！ They were now on thestairs； and in a small closet at the top a lamp was burning。 In themiddle of the floor stood the tame crow； turning her head from side toside； and gazing at Gerda； who curtseyed as her grandmother had taughther to do。
〃My betrothed has spoken so very highly of you； my little lady；〃said the tame crow； 〃your life…history； Vita； as it may be called；is very touching。 If you will take the lamp I will walk before you。 Wewill go straight along this way； then we shall meet no one。〃
〃It seems to me as if somebody were behind us；〃 said Gerda； assomething rushed by her like a shadow on the wall； and then horseswith flying manes and thin legs； hunters； ladies and gentlemen onhorseback； glided by her； like shadows on the wall。
〃They are only dreams；〃 said the crow； 〃they are ing to fetchthe thoughts of the great people out hunting。〃
〃All the better； for we shall be able to look at them in theirbeds more safely。 I hope that when you rise to honor and favor； youwill show a grateful heart。〃
〃You may be quite sure of that；〃 said the crow from the forest。
They now came into the first hall； the walls of which were hungwith rose…colored satin； embroidered with artificial flowers。 Here thedreams again flitted by them but so quickly that Gerda could notdistinguish the royal persons。 Each hall appeared more splendid thanthe last； it was enought to bewilder any one。 At length they reached abedroom。 The ceiling was like a great palm…tree； with glass leavesof the most costly crystal； and over the centre of the floor two beds；each resembling a lily； hung from a stem of gold。 One； in which theprincess lay； was white； the other was red； and in this Gerda had toseek for little Kay。 She pushed one of the red leaves aside； and saw alittle brown neck。 Oh； that must be Kay！ She called his name out quiteloud； and held the lamp over him。 The dreams rushed back into the roomon horseback。 He woke； and turned his head round； it was not littleKay！ The prince was only like him in the neck； still he was youngand pretty。 Then the princess peeped out of her white…lily bed； andasked what was the matter。 Then little Gerda wept and told herstory； and all that the crows had done to help her。
〃You poor child；〃 said the prince and princess； then theypraised the crows； and said they were not angry for what they haddone； but that it must not happen again； and this time they shouldbe rewarded。
〃Would you like to have your freedom？〃 asked the princess； 〃orwould you prefer to be raised to the position of court crows； with allthat is left in the kitchen for yourselves？〃
Then both the crows bowed； and begged to have a fixed appointment；for they thought of their old age； and said it would be so fortableto feel that they had provision for their old days； as they called it。And then the prince got out of his bed； and gave it up to Gerda；… hecould do no more； and she lay down。 She folded her little hands； andthought； 〃How good everyone is to me； men and animals too；〃 then sheclosed her eyes and fell into a sweet sleep。 All the dreams cameflying back again to her； and they looked like angels； and one of themdrew a little sledge； on which sat Kay； and nodded to her。 But allthis was only a dream； and vanished as soon as she awoke。
The following day she was dressed from head to foot in silk andvelvet； and they invited her to stay at the palace for a few days； andenjoy herself； but she only begged for a pair of boots； and a littlecarriage； and a horse to draw it； so that she might go into the wideworld to seek for Kay。 And she obtained； not only boots； but also amuff； and she was neatly dressed； and when she was ready to go； there；at the door； she found a coach made of pure gold； with thecoat…of…arms of the prince and princess shining upon it like a star；and the coachman； footman； and outriders all wearing golden crownson their heads。 The prince and princess themselves helped her into thecoach； and wished her success。 The forest crow； who was now married；acpanied her for the first three miles； he sat by Gerda's side；as he could not bear riding backwards。 The tame crow stood in thedoor…way flapping her wings。 She could not go with them； because shehad been suffering from headache ever since the new appointment； nodoubt from eating too much。 The coach was well stored with sweetcakes； and under the seat were fruit and gingerbread nuts。〃Farewell； farewell；〃 cried the prince and princess； and littleGerda wept； and the crow wept； and then； after a few miles； the crowalso said 〃Farewell；〃 and this was the saddest parting。 However； heflew to a tree； and stood flapping his black wings as long as he couldsee the coach； which glittered in the bright sunshine。
FIFTH STORY
LITTLE ROBBER…GIRL
The coach drove on through a thick forest； where it lighted up theway like a torch； and dazzled the eyes of some robbers； who couldnot bear to let it pass them unmolested。
〃It is gold！ it is gold！〃 cried they； rushing forward； and seizingthe horses。 Then they struck the little jockeys； the coachman； and thefootman dead； and pulled little Gerda out of the carriage。
〃She is fat and pretty； and she has been fed with the kernels ofnuts；〃 said the old robber…woman； who had a long beard and eyebrowsthat hung over her eyes。 〃She is as good as a little lamb； how niceshe will taste！〃 and as she said this； she drew forth a shining knife；that glittered horribly。 〃Oh！〃 screamed the old woman the same moment；for her own daughter； who held her back； had bitten her in the ear。She was a wild and naughty girl； and the mother called her an uglything； and had not time to kill Gerda。
〃She shall play with me；〃 said the little robber…girl； 〃sheshall give me her muff and her pretty dress； and sleep with me in mybed。〃 And then she bit her mother again； and made her spring in theair； and jump about； and all the robbers laughed； and said； 〃See howshe is dancing with her young cub。〃
〃I will have a ride in the coach；〃 said the little robber…girl；and she would have her own way； for she was so self…willed andobstinate。
She and Gerda seated themselves in the coach； and drove away； overstumps and stones； into the depths of the forest。 The littlerobber…girl was about the same size as Gerda； but stronger； she hadbroader shoulders and a darker skin； her eyes were quite black； andshe had a mournful look。 She clasped little Gerda round the waist； andsaid；…
〃They shall not kill you as long as you don't make us vexed withyou。 I suppose you are a princess。〃
〃No；〃 said Gerda； and then she told her all her history； and howfond she was of little Kay。
The robber…girl looked earnestly at her； nodded her head slightly；and said； 〃They sha'nt kill you； even if I d