human
That may be! that may be!
gpt
What? do you think so?
human
Gently, gently! said the Crow.
gpt
I think I know. I believe it may be little Kay; but he has certainly forgotten you, with the princess.
human
Does he live with a princess?
gpt
Yes; listen, said the Crow.
human
But it's so difficult for me to speak your language. If you know the Crow's language, I can tell it much better.
gpt
No, I never learned it, said Gerda;
human
That doesn't matter, said the Crow.
gpt
But it will go badly.
human
In the country in which we now are lives a princess who is quite wonderfully clever; but then she has read all the newspapers in the world, and has forgotten them again, she is so clever. Lately she was sitting on the throne--and that's not so pleasant as is generally supposed--and she began to sing a song, and it was just this: 'Why should I not marry now?' You see, there was something in that, said the Crow.
gpt
And so she wanted to marry, but she wished for a husband who could answer when he was spoken to, not one who only stood and looked handsome, for that was wearisome. And so she had all her maids of honor summoned, and when they heard her intention they were very glad. 'I like that,' said they; 'I thought the very same thing the other day.' You may be sure that every word I am telling you is true, added the Crow.
human
I have a tame sweetheart who goes about freely in the castle, and she told me everything.
gpt
Newspapers were published directly, with a border of hearts and the princess's initials. One could read in them that every young man who was good-looking might come to the castle and speak with the princess, and him who spoke so that one could hear he was at home there, and who spoke best, the princess, would choose for her husband. Yes, yes, said the Crow,
human
said the Crow.
gpt
They were hungry and thirsty, but in the palace they did not receive so much as a glass of lukewarm water. A few of the wisest had brought bread and butter with them, but they would not share with their neighbors, for they thought, 'Let him look hungry, and the princess won't have him.'
human
But Kay, little Kay? asked Gerda.
gpt
When did he come? Was he among the crowd?
human
Wait! wait! We're just coming to him. It was on the third day that there came a little personage, without horse or carriage, walking quite merrily up to the castle. His eyes sparkled like yours; he had fine long hair, but his clothes were shabby.
gpt
That was Kay! cried Gerda, rejoicing.
human
Oh, then, I have found him!
gpt
He had a little knapsack on his back,
human
No, that must certainly have been his sledge, said Gerda,
gpt
That may well be, said the Crow,
human
That is certainly Kay! cried Gerda.
gpt
He had new boots on; I've heard them creak in grandmother's room.
human
Yes, certainly they creaked, resumed the Crow.
gpt
And he went boldly in to the princess herself, who sat on a pearl that was as big as a spinning wheel, and all the maids of honor with their attendants, and all the cavaliers with their followers, and the followers of their followers, who themselves kept a page apiece, were standing round; and the nearer they stood to the door, the prouder they looked. The followers' followers' pages could hardly be looked at, so proudly did they stand in the doorway!
human
That must be terrible! faltered little Gerda.
gpt
And yet Kay won the princess?
human
If I had not been a crow, I would have married her myself, notwithstanding that I am engaged. They say he spoke as well as I can when I speak the crows' language; I heard that from my tame sweetheart. He was merry and agreeable; he had not come to marry, only to hear the wisdom of the princess; and he approved of her, and she of him.
gpt
Yes, certainly that was Kay! said Gerda.
human
He was so clever; he could do mental arithmetic up to fractions. Oh! won't you lead me to the castle, too?
gpt
That's easily said, replied the Crow.
human
But how are we to manage it? I'll talk it over with my tame sweetheart: she can probably advise us; for this I must tell you--a little girl like yourself will never get leave to go completely in.
gpt
Yes, I shall get leave, said Gerda.
human
When Kay hears that I'm there he'll come out directly, and bring me in.
gpt
Wait for me yonder at the grating,
human
Rax! rax! it said.
gpt
I'm to greet you kindly from my sweetheart, and here's a little loaf for you. She took it from the kitchen. There's plenty of bread there, and you must be hungry. You can't possibly get into the palace, for you are barefooted, and the guards in silver and the lackeys in gold would not allow it. But don't cry; you shall go up. My sweetheart knows a little back staircase that leads up to the bedroom, and she knows where she can get the key.