THE SNOW QUEEN
AN ADVENTURE IN SEVEN STORIES
FOURTH STORY
A PRINCE AND PRINCESS
“The newspapers came out right away with a border of hearts and the princess’s signature. You could read that any young man who was attractive was welcome to come up to the castle and talk to the princess, and the one who talked well about what he knew, and spoke the best, would be the one the princess would marry!—Well, well... Believe you me, as sure as I’m sitting here, people came streaming to the castle. There was a rustling and bustling, but it was of no use, neither the first day nor the next. They could all speak well enough when they were out on the street, but when they entered the castle gates and saw the sentries in silver and lackeys in gold livery up the steps, and the big lighted rooms, they became disconcerted. And when they stood in front of the throne, where the princess sat, they couldn’t say a thing except repeat what she had just said, and she didn’t care to hear that again. It was as if people in there had eaten snuff and had fallen into a trance until they were out on the street where they could talk again. There was a row of them all the way from the gates to the castle. I myself went in to have a look. They were both hungry and thirsty, but they didn’t even get a glass of lukewarm water from the castle. Some of the smarter ones had taken some sandwiches along, but they didn’t share with their neighbours. They were thinking: ‘Let him look hungry, then the princess won’t pick him.”
“But ... When did he come? Was he among the many?”
“Just wait, just wait. We’ll get to him in a moment. It was on the third day, and a little person arrived without a horse or a wagon, quite confidently marching right up to the castle. His eyes shone. He had lovely long hair, but his clothes were poor!”
“He had a little knapsack on his back,”...
“I didn’t pay such close attention. But I have it from my sweetheart that when he came through the castle gates and saw the sentries in silver and the lackeys in gold up the steps, he wasn’t the least bit dispirited. He nodded at them and said, ‘It must be boring standing on the steps; I’ll go inside.’ Inside the rooms were shining with lights, and Privy Councilors and Excellencies walked in bare feet bearing gold platters —there was reason enough to feel solemn. His boots were creaking terribly loudly, but he still didn’t become afraid!”
“Well, they certainly creaked! and he went dauntlessly in to present himself to the princess, who was sitting on a pearl as big as a spinning wheel. All the ladies-in-waiting with their maids and maids’ maids and all the cavaliers with their servants and servants’ servants, with their pages, were standing all around. And the closer they stood to the door, the prouder they were. The servants’ servants’ page, who always wears slippers, stood so proudly by the door that you almost couldn’t look at him.”
“That must be awful, but he actually got the princess?!”
“He is to have spoken as well as I do when I speak, according to my sweetheart. He was confident and lovely. He had not come to propose, just to hear the wisdom of the princess, and he approved of it, and she approved of him too.”
“... Oh— won’t you take ... to the castle?”
“That’s easier said than done,” said ... “How would we do that? I’ll talk to my sweetheart about it. She’ll give us advice, but I must tell ... that ... will never be allowed in there.”
“Oh yes, ...,” said .... “... here, he’ll come right out ....”
“Wait for me by those steps over the fence,” said ..., who cocked his head and ... away.
Not until it was dark did ... come back: “...,” he said. “I bring many greetings from her, and here’s a little bread for you. She took it from the kitchen. There’s plenty there, and ...—it’s not possible for ... to enter the castle .... The sentries in silver and lackeys in gold would never allow it, but .... You’ll get up there anyway. My sweetheart knows a little back stairway that leads to the bedroom, and she knows where to take the key.”
And they went into the garden, into a big avenue, where one leaf after another fell, and when the lights in the castle started going out, one after another, the ... led ... to a back door that was standing ajar.
Then they were on the steps. There was a little lamp burning on a cupboard. In the middle of the floor stood ....
“My fiancé has spoken very well of ...— if you’ll take the lamp, I’ll lead the way. We’ll go straight there. Then we won’t meet anyone.”
“I think there’s someone coming behind us,” ..., and something roared past .... There were shadows on the walls, horses with flying manes and slender legs, hunters, and men and women riding.
“That’s only the dreams,” said .... “They come and take their Highnesses’ thoughts along hunting. That’s good because then you can see them better in bed. But be sure, if you get honour and favour, to show a thankful heart!”
Then they entered the first room. There were pink satin walls with artificial flowers. Here the dreams were flying past them, but they went so fast that one didn’t see their Highnesses. One room was more magnificent than the next. You really could be stupefied! And then they were in the bedroom. The ceiling in there looked like a big palm with fronds of glass, expensive glass, and in the middle of the floor hung two beds on a thick stalk, and they looked like lilies. One was white, and in it lay the princess. The second was red, and that’s where.... ... bent one of the red leaves to the side and saw a brown neck.—... —...—the dreams roared by on horses back to the hall again—he awoke, turned his head and—it was....
The prince ..., but he was young and handsome. And the princess peered out from the white lily bed and asked what was happening. Then ....
“You poor little thing,” said the prince and princess, and they praised ... and said they weren’t angry with them at all, but they shouldn’t do it again. However, they would get a reward.
“Do you want to ... free?” asked the princess, “or do you want permanent positions as Court ... with all the scraps in the kitchen?”
And both ... bowed and asked to have permanent ....
The prince got up from his bed and let ... sleep there, and he couldn’t do more than that. ... thought, “How good people ... are,” and then ... closed ... eyes and slept so peacefully.
The next day ... was dressed from top to toe in silk and velvet. ... was invited to stay at the castle and have a good future, but ... only asked for a little carriage with a horse and a pair of little boots. Then she would drive out in the wide world again to find ....
And ... was given both boots and a muff. ... was dressed beautifully, and when ... was ready to leave, there was a new coach of pure gold waiting by the door. The prince and princess’ coat of arms shone from it like a star. The coachman, servants, and outriders—for there were outriders too—were wearing gold crowns. The prince and princess helped ... into the coach and wished ... luck. ... Inside, the coach was lined with sugar pastries, and under the seats were fruits and peppernut cookies.
“Farewell, farewell,” shouted the prince and princess,...—that’s how the first miles went. ... as long as he could see the coach, which shone like clear sunshine.
FIFTH STORY
THE LITTLE ROBBER GIRL
“It’s gold! It’s gold!” they yelled, rushed forward, seized the horses, killed the little outriders, the driver, and servants, ...
SEVENTH STORY
... WHAT
HAPPENED LATER
There were green buds on the trees, and riding out of the trees came a
magnificent horse that ... recognized, for it had pulled the gold coach, and on this horse was a young girl with a
shining red cap on her head and pistols in front. It was the little robber girl, who was bored with being at home and
wanted to travel first north and then to other quarters if she wasn’t satisfied.
...
But ... and asked about the prince and princess.
“They’re travelling abroad,” said the robber girl.
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