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ur boots and the mittens； or Gerdawould have been unable to bear the heat； and then she placed a pieceof ice on the reindeer's head； and read what was written on thedried fish。 After she had read it three times； she knew it by heart；so she popped the fish into the soup saucepan； as she knew it was goodto eat； and she never wasted anything。 The reindeer told his own storyfirst； and then little Gerda's； and the Finlander twinkled with herclever eyes； but she said nothing。 〃You are so clever；〃 said thereindeer； 〃I know you can tie all the winds of the world with apiece of twine。 If a sailor unties one knot； he has a fair wind；when he unties the second； it blows hard； but if the third andfourth are loosened； then es a storm； which will root up wholeforests。 Cannot you give this little maiden something which willmake her as strong as twelve men； to overe the Snow Queen？〃
〃The Power of twelve men！〃 said the Finland woman； 〃that wouldbe of very little use。〃 But she went to a shelf and took down andunrolled a large skin； on which were inscribed wonderful characters；and she read till the perspiration ran down from her forehead。 But thereindeer begged so hard for little Gerda； and Gerda looked at theFinland woman with such beseeching tearful eyes； that her own eyesbegan to twinkle again； so she drew the reindeer into a corner； andwhispered to him while she laid a fresh piece of ice on his head；〃Little Kay is really with the Snow Queen； but he finds everythingthere so much to his taste and his liking； that he believes it isthe finest place in the world； but this is because he has a piece ofbroken glass in his heart； and a little piece of glass in his eye。These must be taken out； or he will never be a human being again；and the Snow Queen will retain her power over him。〃
〃But can you not give little Gerda something to help her toconquer this power？〃
〃I can give her no greater power than she has already；〃 said thewoman； 〃don't you see how strong that is？ How men and animals areobliged to serve her； and how well she has got through the world；barefooted as she is。 She cannot receive any power from me greaterthan she now has； which consists in her own purity and innocence ofheart。 If she cannot herself obtain access to the Snow Queen； andremove the glass fragments from little Kay； we can do nothing tohelp her。 Two miles from here the Snow Queen's garden begins； youcan carry the little girl so far； and set her down by the large bushwhich stands in the snow； covered with red berries。 Do not staygossiping； but e back here as quickly as you can。〃 Then the Finlandwoman lifted little Gerda upon the reindeer； and he ran away withher as quickly as he could。
〃Oh； I have forgotten my boots and my mittens；〃 cried littleGerda； as soon as she felt the cutting cold； but the reindeer darednot stop； so he ran on till he reached the bush with the redberries； here he set Gerda down； and he kissed her； and the greatbright tears trickled over the animal's cheeks； then he left her andran back as fast as he could。
There stood poor Gerda； without shoes； without gloves； in themidst of cold； dreary； ice…bound Finland。 She ran forwards asquickly as she could； when a whole regiment of snow…flakes cameround her； they did not； however； fall from the sky； which was quiteclear and glittering with the northern lights。 The snow…flakes ranalong the ground； and the nearer they came to her； the larger theyappeared。 Gerda remembered how large and beautiful they looked throughthe burning…glass。 But these were really larger； and much moreterrible； for they were alive； and were the guards of the SnowQueen； and had the strangest shapes。 Some were like greatporcupines； others like twisted serpents with their heads stretchingout； and some few were like little fat bears with their hair bristled；but all were dazzlingly white； and all were living snow…flakes。 Thenlittle Gerda repeated the Lord's Prayer； and the cold was so greatthat she could see her own breath e out of her mouth like steamas she uttered the words。 The steam appeared to increase； as shecontinued her prayer； till it took the shape of little angels who grewlarger the moment they touched the earth。 They all wore helmets ontheir heads； and carried spears and shields。 Their number continued toincrease more and more； and by the time Gerda had finished herprayers； a whole legion stood round her。 They thrust their spears intothe terrible snow…flakes； so that they shivered into a hundred pieces；and little Gerda could go forward with courage and safety。 Theangels stroked her hands and feet； so that she felt the cold less； andshe hastened on to the Snow Queen's castle。
But now we must see what Kay is doing。 In truth he thought notof little Gerda； and never supposed she could be standing in the frontof the palace。
SEVENTH STORY
OF THE PALACE OF THE SNOW QUEEN
AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE AT LAST
The walls of the palace were formed of drifted snow； and thewindows and doors of the cutting winds。 There were more than a hundredrooms in it； all as if they had been formed with snow blowntogether。 The largest of them extended for several miles； they wereall lighted up by the vivid light of the aurora； and they were solarge and empty； so icy cold and glittering！ There were noamusements here； not even a little bear's ball； when the storm mighthave been the music； and the bears could have danced on their hindlegs； and shown their good manners。 There were no pleasant games ofsnap…dragon； or touch； or even a gossip over the tea…table； for theyoung…lady foxes。 Empty； vast； and cold were the halls of the SnowQueen。 The flickering flame of the northern lights could be plainlyseen； whether they rose high or low in the heavens； from every part ofthe castle。 In the midst of its empty； endless hall of snow was afrozen lake； broken on its surface into a thousand forms； each pieceresembled another； from being in itself perfect as a work of art；and in the centre of this lake sat the Snow Queen； when she was athome。 She called the lake 〃The Mirror of Reason；〃 and said that it wasthe best； and indeed the only one in the world。
Little Kay was quite blue with cold； indeed almost black； but hedid not feel it； for the Snow Queen had kissed away the icyshiverings； and his heart was already a lump of ice。 He dragged somesharp； flat pieces of ice to and fro； and placed them together inall kinds of positions； as if he wished to make something out of them；just as we try to form various figures with little tablets of woodwhich we call 〃a Chinese puzzle。〃 Kay's fingers were very artistic； itwas the icy game of reason at which he played； and in his eyes thefigures were very remarkable； and of the highest importance； thisopinion was owing to the piece of glass still sticking in his eye。He posed many plete figures； forming different words； butthere was one word he never could manage to form； although he wishedit very much。 It was the word 〃Eternity。〃 The Snow Queen had said tohim； 〃When you can find out this； you shall be your own master； andI will give you the whole world and a new pair of skates。〃 But hecould not acplish it。
〃Now I must hasten away to warmer countries；〃 said the Snow Queen。〃I will go and look into the black craters of the tops of theburning mountains； Etna and Vesuvius； as they are called；… I shallmake them look white； which will be good for them； and for thelemons and the grapes。〃 And away flew the Snow Queen； leaving littleKay quite alone in the great hall which was so many miles in length；so he sat and looked at his pieces of ice； and was thinking so deeply；and sat so still； that any one might have supposed he was frozen。
Just at this moment it happened that little Gerda came through thegreat door of the castle。 Cutting winds were raging around her； butshe offered up a prayer and the winds sank down as if they weregoing to sleep； and she went on till she came to the large empty hall；and caught sight of Kay； she knew him directly； she flew to him andthrew her arms round his neck； and held him fast； while she exclaimed；〃Kay； dear little Kay； I have found you at last。〃
But he sat quite still； stiff and cold。
Then little Gerda wept hot tears； which fell on his breast； andperated into his heart； and thawed the lump of ice