Page:Fairy tales and stories (Andersen, Tegner).djvu/193

Rh could do mental arithmetic even in tractions! Oh, will you not take me to the palace?" "Well, that is easily said!" said the crow. "But how shall we manage it ? I will speak, with my sweetheart about it; she can give us some advice, no doubt, for I must tell you such a little girl as you will never be permitted to get right inside!"

"Yes, I shall!" said Gerda. "When Kay hears I am there he will come out at once and fetch me ! "

"Wait for me at the stile over yonder ! " said the crow, with a twist of his head as he Hew away.

It was not till late in the evening that the crow returned.

"Caw! Caw!" he croaked. "My sweetheart sends you her kind love, and here is a piece of bread for you; she took it from the kitchen, there is plenty of bread there, and you must be hungry ! You cannot possibly get into the palace — for, look, you are barefooted ! The guards in silver and the lackeys in gold would not allow it ; but don't cry, you shall get in somehow. My sweetheart knows a little back staircase which leads up to the bedroom, and she knows where she can find the key !"

And they went into the garden and along the long avenue where the leaves were falling one after the other ; and when the lights in the palace were extinguished, one by one, the crow led little Gerda to a back door, which stood ajar.

Oh, how Gerda's heart was beating with anxiety and longing ! She felt as if she were about to do something wrong, while she only wanted to know if little Kay was there. Yes, it must be he ; she could see his clever eves, his long hair, and could even see how he smiled, just as when they used to sit under the roses at home. He would surely be glad to see her when he heard what a long way she had come for his sake, and how grieved they all were at home because he did not come back. Oh, what fear and what joy !

They were now on the stairs, where a small lamp was burning on the top of a cupboard ; in the middle of the room stood the tame crow, turn- ing her head in all directions and staring at Gerda, who curtseyed as her grandmother had taught her to do.

"My sweetheart has spoken so nicely about you, my young lady," said the tame crow; "your vita, as they say, is really very touching! If you will carry the lamp, I will go on in front. We will go straight ahead, for we shall meet no one this way."

"I fancy there is somebody coming behind us," said Gerda, as she felt something sweep past her. Shadows of horses with living manes and the thin legs of huntsmen, and ladies and gentlemen on horseback seemed to glide past her on the wall. "They are only dreams," said the crow ; " they come to fetch the thoughts of our royal folks to go a-hunting, which is just as well, for then