'That must be Kay!' said Gerda. 'I know he had new boots on; I
have heard them creaking in his grandmother's room!'

'They did creak, certainly!' said the crow. 'And, not one bit
afraid, up he went to the princess, who was sitting on a large
pearl as round as a spinning wheel. All the ladies-in-waiting
were standing round, each with their attendants, and the
lords-in-waiting with their attendants. The nearer they stood to
the door the prouder they were.'

'It must have been dreadful!' said little 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!'