It was late in the evening before the crow returned. “Caw, caw,” he said,
“she sends you greeting, and here is a little roll which she took from the
kitchen for you; there is plenty of bread there, and she thinks you must be
hungry. It is not possible for you to enter the palace by the front entrance.
The guards in silver uniform and the servants in gold livery would not allow
it. But do not cry, we will manage to get you in; my sweetheart knows a
little back-staircase that leads to the sleeping apartments, and she knows
where to find the key.”
Then they went into the garden through the great avenue, where the
leaves were falling one after another, and they could see the light in the
palace being put out in the same manner. And the crow led little Gerda to
the back door, which stood ajar. Oh! how little Gerda’s heart beat with
anxiety and longing; it was just as if she were going to do something wrong,
and yet she only wanted to know where little Kay was. “It must be he,” she
thought, “with those clear eyes, and that long hair.” She could fancy she
saw him smiling at her, as he used to at home, when they sat among the
roses. He would certainly be glad to see her, and to hear what a long
distance she had come for his sake, and to know how sorry they had been at
home because he did not come back. Oh what joy and yet fear she felt!
They were now on the stairs, and in a small closet at the top a lamp was
burning. In the middle of the floor stood the tame crow, turning her head
from side to side, and gazing at Gerda, who curtseyed as her grandmother
had taught her to do.
“My betrothed has spoken so very highly of you, my little lady,” said the
tame crow, “your life-history, Vita, as it may be called, is very touching. If
you will take the lamp I will walk before you. We will go straight along this
way, then we shall meet no one.”
“It seems to me as if somebody were behind us,” said Gerda, as
something rushed by her like a shadow on the wall, and then horses with
flying manes and thin legs, hunters, ladies and gentlemen on horseback,
glided by her, like shadows on the wall.
