安徒生童话-第100部分

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all　that　was　wicked　and　bad　became　morevisible；　and　every　little　fault　could　be　plainly　seen。　Poor　little　Kayhad　also　received　a　small　grain　in　his　heart；　which　very　quicklyturned　to　a　lump　of　ice。　He　felt　no　more　pain；　but　the　glass　was　therestill。　〃Why　do　you　cry？〃　said　he　at　last；　〃it　makes　you　look　ugly。There　is　nothing　the　matter　with　me　now。　Oh；　see！〃　he　criedsuddenly；　〃that　rose　is　worm…eaten；　and　this　one　is　quite　crooked。After　all　they　are　ugly　roses；　just　like　the　box　in　which　they　stand；〃and　then　he　kicked　the　boxes　with　his　foot；　and　pulled　off　the　tworoses。

〃Kay；　what　are　you　doing？〃　cried　the　little　girl；　and　then；　whenhe　saw　how　frightened　she　was；　he　tore　off　another　rose；　and　jumpedthrough　his　own　window　away　from　little　Gerda。

When　she　afterwards　brought　out　the　picture　book；　he　said；　〃It　wasonly　fit　for　babies　in　long　clothes；〃　and　when　grandmother　told　anystories；　he　would　interrupt　her　with　〃but；〃　or；　when　he　could　manageit；　he　would　get　behind　her　chair；　put　on　a　pair　of　spectacles；　andimitate　her　very　cleverly；　to　make　people　laugh。　By…and…by　he　began　tomimic　the　speech　and　gait　of　persons　in　the　street。　All　that　waspeculiar　or　disagreeable　in　a　person　he　would　imitate　directly；　andpeople　said；　〃That　boy　will　be　very　clever；　he　has　a　remarkablegenius。〃　But　it　was　the　piece　of　glass　in　his　eye；　and　the　coldness　inhis　heart；　that　made　him　act　like　this。　He　would　even　tease　littleGerda；　who　loved　him　with　all　her　heart。　His　games；　too；　were　quitedifferent；　they　were　not　so　childish。　One　winter's　day；　when　itsnowed；　he　brought　out　a　burning…glass；　then　he　held　out　the　tail　ofhis　blue　coat；　and　let　the　snow…flakes　fall　upon　it。　〃Look　in　thisglass；　Gerda；〃　said　he；　and　she　saw　how　every　flake　of　snow　wasmagnified；　and　looked　like　a　beautiful　flower　or　a　glittering　star。〃Is　it　not　clever？〃　said　Kay；　〃and　much　more　interesting　thanlooking　at　real　flowers。　There　is　not　a　single　fault　in　it；　and　thesnow…flakes　are　quite　perfect　till　they　begin　to　melt。〃

Soon　after　Kay　made　his　appearance　in　large　thick　gloves；　and　withhis　sledge　at　his　back。　He　called　up　stairs　to　Gerda；　〃I've　got　toleave　to　go　into　the　great　square；　where　the　other　boys　play　andride。〃　And　away　he　went。

In　the　great　square；　the　boldest　among　the　boys　would　often　tietheir　sledges　to　the　country　people's　carts；　and　go　with　them　a　goodway。　This　was　capital。　But　while　they　were　all　amusing　themselves；　andKay　with　them；　a　great　sledge　came　by；　it　was　painted　white；　and　in　itsat　some　one　wrapped　in　a　rough　white　fur；　and　wearing　a　white　cap。The　sledge　drove　twice　round　the　square；　and　Kay　fastened　his　ownlittle　sledge　to　it；　so　that　when　it　went　away；　he　followed　with　it。It　went　faster　and　faster　right　through　the　next　street；　and　thenthe　person　who　drove　turned　round　and　nodded　pleasantly　to　Kay；　justas　if　they　were　acquainted　with　each　other；　but　whenever　Kay　wished　toloosen　his　little　sledge　the　driver　nodded　again；　so　Kay　sat　still；and　they　drove　out　through　the　town　gate。　Then　the　snow　began　tofall　so　heavily　that　the　little　boy　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　afraid　that　if　littleGerda　saw　roses　she　would　think　of　those　at　home；　and　then　rememberlittle　Kay；　and　run　away。　Then　she　took　Gerda　into　theflower…garden。　How　fragrant　and　beautiful　it　was！　Every　flower　thatcould　be　thought　of　for　every　season　of　the　year　was　here　in　fullbloom；　no　picture…book　could　have　more　beautiful　colors。　Gerdajumped　for　joy；　and　played　till　the　sun　went　down　behind　the　tallcherry…trees；　then　she　slept　in　an　elegant　bed　with　red　silkpillows；　embroidered　with　colored　violets；　and　then　she　dreamed　aspleasantly　as　a　queen　on　her　wedding　day。　The　next　day；　and　for　manydays　after；　Gerda　played　with　the　flowers　in　the　warm　sunshine。　Sheknew　every　flower；　and　yet；　although　there　were　so　many　of　them；　itseemed　as　if　one　were　missing；　but　which　it　was　she　could　not　tell。One　day；　however；　as　she　sat　looking　at　the　old　woman's　hat　with　thepainted　flowers　on　it；　she　saw　that　the　prettiest　of　them　all　was　arose。　The　old　woman　had　forgotten　to　take　it　from　her　hat　when　shemade　all　the　roses　sink　into　the　earth。　But　it　is　difficult　to　keepthe　thoughts　together　in　everything；　one　little　mistake　upsets　all　ourarrangements。

〃What；　are　there　no　roses　here？〃　cried　Gerda；　and　she　ran　out　intothe　garden；　and　examined　all　the　beds；　and　searched　and　searched。There　was　not　one　to　be　found。　Then　she　sat　down　and　wept；　and　hertears　fell　just　on　the　place　where　one　of　the　rose…trees　had　sunkdown。　The　warm　tears　moistened　the　earth；　and　the　rose…tree　sproutedup　at　once；　as　blooming　as　when　it　had　sunk；　and　Gerda　embraced　it　andkissed　the　roses；　and　thought　of　the　beautiful　roses　at　home；　and；with　them；　of　little　Kay。

〃Oh；　how　I　have　been　detained！〃　said　the　little　maiden；　〃Iwanted　to　seek　for　little　Kay。　Do　you　know　where　he　is？〃　she　asked　theroses；　〃do　you　think　he　is　dead？〃

And　the　roses　answered；　〃No；　he　is　not　dead。　We　have　been　in　theground　where　all　the　dead　lie；　but　Kay　is　not　there。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　little　Gerda；　and　then　she　went　to　the　otherflowers；　and　looked　into　their　little　cups；　and　asked；　〃Do　you　knowwhere　little　Kay　is？〃　But　each　flower；　as　it　stood　in　the　sunshine；dreamed　only　of　its　own　little　fairy　tale　of　history。　Not　one　knewanything　of　Kay。　Gerda　heard　many　stories　from　the　flowers；　as　sheasked　them　one　after　another　about　him。

And　what；　said　the　tiger…lily？　〃Hark；　do　you　hear　the　drum？　…'turn；　turn；'…　there　are　only　two　notes；　always；　'turn；　turn。'Listen　to　the　women's　song　of　mourning！　Hear　the　cry　of　the　priest！　Inher　long　red　robe　stands　the　Hindoo　widow　by　the　funeral　pile。　Theflames　rise　around　her　as　she　places　herself　on　the　dead　body　of　herhusband；　but　the　Hindoo　woman　is　thinking　of　the　living　one　in　thatcircle；　of　him；　her　son；　who　lighted　those　flames。　Those　shiningeyes　trouble　her　heart　more　painfully　than　the　flames　which　willsoon　consume　her　body　to　ashes。　Can　the　fire　of　the　heart　beextinguished　in　the　flames　of　the　funeral　pile？〃

〃I　don't　understand　that　at　all；〃　said　little　Gerda。

〃That　is　my　story；〃　said　the　tiger…lily。

What；　says　the　convolvulus？　〃Near　yonder　narrow　road　stands　an　oldknight's　castle；　thick　ivy　creeps　over　the　old　ruined　walls；　leaf　overleaf；　even　to　the　balcony；　in　which　stands　a　beautiful　maiden。　Shebends　over　the　balustrades；　and　looks　up　the　road。　No　rose　on　its　stemis　fresher　than　she；　no　apple…blossom；　wafted　by　the　wind；　floats　morelightly　than　she　moves。　Her　rich　silk　rustles　as　she　bends　over　andexclaims；　'Will　he　not　e？'

〃Is　it　Kay　you　mean？〃　asked　Gerda。

〃I　am　only　speaking　of　a　story　of　my　dream；〃　replied　the　flower。

What；　said　the　little　snow…drop？　〃Between　two　trees　a　rope　ishanging；　there　is　a　piece　of　board　upon　it；　it　is　a　swing。　Twopretty　little　girls；　in　dresses　white　as　snow；　and　with　long　greenribbons　fluttering　from　their　hats；　are　sitting　upon　it　swinging。Their　brother　who　is　taller　than　they　are；　stands　in　the　swing；　he　hasone　arm　round　the　rope；　to　steady　himself；　in　one　hand　he　holds　alittle　bowl；　and　in　the　other　a　clay　pipe；　he　is　blowing　bubbles。　Asthe　swing　goes　on；　the　bubbles　fly　upward；　reflecting　the　mo