《安徒生童话英文版》第317章

　　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 becomeof 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 tocomfort her, "Here we are!