Снежная королева
The Prince and Princess
"InthekingdomwherewenowaretherelivesaPrincess,whoisextraordinarilyclever; forshehasreadallthenewspapersinthewholeworld,andhasforgottenthemagain—socleverisshe. Shewaslately,itissaid,sittingonherthrone—whichisnotveryamusingafterall—whenshebeganhumminganoldtune,anditwasjust, ’Oh,whyshouldInotbemarried? ’"Thatsongisnotwithoutitsmeaning,’saidshe,andsothenshewasdeterminedtomarry; butshewouldhaveahusbandwhoknewhowtogiveananswerwhenhewasspokento—notonewholookedonlyasifhewereagreatpersonage,forthatissotiresome. Shethenhadalltheladiesofthecourtdrummedtogether; andwhentheyheardherintention,allwereverypleased,andsaid, ’Weareverygladtohearit; itistheverythingwewerethinkingof. ’YoumaybelieveeverywordIsay,saidtheRaven; "forIhaveatamesweetheartthathopsaboutinthepalacequitefree,anditwasshewhotoldmeallthis.
"ThenewspapersappearedforthwithwithaborderofheartsandtheinitialsofthePrincess; andthereinyoumightreadthateverygood-lookingyoungmanwasatlibertytocometothepalaceandspeaktothePrincess; andhewhospokeinsuchwiseasshowedhefelthimselfathomethere,thatonethePrincesswouldchooseforherhusband.
"Yes,Yes,"saidtheRaven,"youmaybelieveit; itisastrueasIamsittinghere. Peoplecameincrowds;therewasacrushandahurry,butnoonewassuccessfuleitheronthefirstorsecondday.
