'How cold it is here! How wide and empty!' and he threw himself
on Gerda, and she laughed and wept for joy. It was such a happy
time that the pieces of ice even danced round them for joy, and
when they were tired and lay down again they formed themselves
into the letters that the Snow-queen had said he must spell in
order to become his own master and have the whole world and a new
pair of skates.

And Gerda kissed his cheeks and they grew rosy; she kissed his
eyes and they sparkled like hers; she kissed his hands and feet
and he became warm and glowing. The Snow-queen might come home
now; his release--the word 'Love'--stood written in sparkling
ice.

They took each other's hands and wandered out of the great
palace; they talked about the grandmother and the roses on the
leads, wherever they came the winds hushed and the sun came out.
When they reached the bush with red berries there stood the
reindeer waiting for them.

He carried Kay and Gerda first to the Finland woman, who warmed
them in her hot room and gave them advice for their journey home.

Then they went to the Lapland woman, who gave them new clothes
and mended their sleigh. The reindeer ran with them until they
came to the green fields fresh with the spring green. Here he
said good-bye.

They came to the forest, which was bursting into bud, and out of