e Gerda. 'And Kay did win the
princess?'

'I heard from my tame sweetheart that he was merry and quick-witted; he
had not come to woo, he said, but to listen to the princess's wisdom.
And the end of it was that they fell in love with each other.'

'Oh, yes; that was Kay!' said Gerda. 'He was so clever; he could do sums
with fractions. Oh, do lead me to the palace!'

'That's easily said!' answered the crow, 'but how are we to manage that?
I must talk it over with my tame sweetheart. She may be able to advise
us, for I must tell you that a little girl like you could never get
permission to enter it.'

'Yes, I will get it!' said Gerda. 'When Kay hears that I am there he
will come out at once and fetch me!'

'Wait for me by the railings,' said the crow, and he nodded his head and
flew away.

It was late in the evening when he came back.

'Caw, caw!' he said, 'I am to give you her love, and here is a little
roll for you. She took it out of the kitchen; there's plenty there,
and you must be hungry. You cannot come into the palace. The guards in
silver and the footmen in gold would not allow it. But don't cry! You
shall get in all right. My sweetheart knows a little back-stairs which
leads to the sleeping-room, and she knows where to find the key.'

They went into the garden, and when the lights in the palace were put
out one after the other, the crow led Gerda to a back-door.

Oh, how Gerda's heart beat with anxiety and longing! It seemed as if she
were going to do something wrong, but she only wanted to know if it were
little Kay. Yes, it must be he! She remembered so well his clever eyes,
his curly hair. She could see him smiling as he did when they were at
home under the rose trees! He would be so pleased to see her, and to
hear how they all were at home.

Now they were on the stairs; a little lamp was burning, and on the
landing stood the tame crow. She put her head on one side and looked at
Gerda, who bowed as her grandmother had taught her.

'My betrothed has told me many nice things about you, my dear young
lady,' she said. 'Will you take the lamp while I go in front? We go this
way so as to meet no one.'

Through beautiful rooms they came to the sleeping-room. In the middle of
it, hung on a thick rod of gold, were two beds, shaped like lilies, one
all white, in which lay the princess, and the other red, in which Gerda
hoped to find Kay. She pushed aside the curtain, and saw a brown neck.
Oh, it was Kay!