The crow nodded very thoughtfully and said, 'It might be! It
might be!'

'What! Do you think you have?' cried the little girl, and she
almost squeezed the crow to death as she kissed him.

'Gently, gently!' said the crow. 'I think--I know I think--it
might be little Kay, but now he has forgotten you for the
princess!'

'Does he live with a princess?' asked Gerda.

'Yes, listen,' said the crow.

Then he told her all he knew.

'In the kingdom in which we are now sitting lives a princess who
is dreadfully clever. She has read all the newspapers in the
world and has forgotten them again. She is as clever as that.
The other day she came to the throne, and that is not so pleasant
as people think. Then she began to say, "Why should I not
marry?" But she wanted a husband who could answer when he was
spoken to, not one who would stand up stiffly and look
respectable--that would be too dull.

'When she told all the Court ladies, they were delighted. You
can believe every word I say,' said the crow, 'I have a tame
sweetheart in the palace, and she tells me everything.'