276 / THE SNOW QUEEN.

told everything, and asked if she had not seen little Kay, the
woman said that he had not yet come by, but that he probably
would soon come. Gerda was not to be sorrowful, but to look at
the flowers and taste the cherries, for they were better than any
picture-book, for each one of them could tell a story. Then she
took Gerda by the hand and led her into the little house, and
the old woman locked the door.

The windows were very high, and the panes were red, blue, and
yellow; the daylight shone in a remarkable way, with different
colours. On the table stood the finest cherries, and Gerda ate as
many of them as she liked, for she had leave to do so. Whileshe
was eating them, the old lady combed her hair with a golden
comb, and the hair hung in ringlets of pretty yellow round the
friendly little face, which looked as blooming as a rose.

“‘T have long wished for such a dear little girl as you,” said the
~ old lady. ‘Now you shall see how well we shall live with one
another.”

And as the ancient dame combed her hair, Gerda forgot her
adopted: brother Kay more and more; for this old woman could
conjure, but she was not a wicked witch. She only practised a
little magic for her own amusement, and wanted to keep little
Gerda. Therefore she went into the garden, stretched out her
crutch towards all the rose bushes, and, beautiful as they were,
they all sank into the earth, and one could not tell where they
had stood. The old woman was afraid that, if the little girl saw
roses, she would think of her own, and remember little Kay, and
run away.

Now Gerda was led out into the flower-garden. What fra-
grance was there, and what loveliness! Every conceivable flower
was there in full bloom; there were some for every season: no
picture-book could be gayer and prettier. Gerda jumped high
for joy, and played till the sun went down behind the high cherry
trees; then she was put into a lovely bed with red silk pillows
stuffed with blue violets, and she slept there, and dreamed as
gloriously as a Queen on her wedding-day.

One day she played again with the flowers in the warm sun-
shine; and thus many days went by. Gerda knew every flower ;
but, as many as there were of them, it still seemed to her as if
one were wanting, but which one she did not know. One day
she sat looking at the old lady’s hat with the painted flowers,
and the prettiest of them all was arose. The old lady had for-
gotten to efface it from her hat when she caused the others to
disappear.’ But so it always is when one does not keep one’s
wits about one.

“ What, are there no roses here?” cried Gerda.

And she went among the beds, and searched and searched,
but there was not one to be found. Thenshe sat down and wept:
her tears fell just upon a spot where a rose-bud lay buried, and