安徒生童话-第166章
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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 sort
