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If the worst came to the worst, it is in my mind that we might take to the boat and let the ship go her own way, if she is beyond our handling when we make the shore." "If we can sight land, it is possible that we may be sighted also," said I. "It seems our only chance. I will call Gerda."
But Kay and Gerda walked on, hand in hand, and wherever they went they found the most delightful spring and blooming flowers. Soon they recognised the big town where they lived, with its tall towers, in which the bells still rang their merry peals. They went straight on to grandmother's door, up the stairs and into her room.
They flew over woods and lakes, over sea and land; below them roared the wild wind; the wolves howled and the snow crackled; over them flew the black screaming crows, and above all shone the moon, clear and bright, and so Kay passed through the long winter's night, and by day he slept at the feet of the Snow Queen. But how fared little Gerda during Kay's absence?
'I believe it may have been Kay, but he has forgotten you by this time, I expect, for the Princess. 'Does he live with a Princess? asked Gerda. 'Yes, listen, said the crow; 'but it is so difficult to speak your language. If you understand "crow's language," I can tell you about it much better. 'No, I have never learnt it, said Gerda; 'but grandmother knew it, and used to speak it.
Or Gerda might become a Quaker, or a lone mystic contemplating in woods, but a Broad-Evangelical, no. There was a delicate, reckless extravagance about Gerda which would prohibit that. If you came to that, what girl or boy did, in these days, fall into any of the categories which Grandmama and Grandpapa had known, whether religiously or politically?
He knew her, and shouted with joy, 'Gerda, dear little Gerda! where have you been for such a long time? And where have I been? He looked round and said, 'How cold it is here; how empty and vast! He kept tight hold of Gerda, who laughed and cried for joy.
School was over and vacation had begun. Gerda and Birger were on their way to Rättvik, taking Karen with them so that she might see the great midsummer festival before going to spend the summer at the Sea-gull Light. "Isn't this the best fun we ever had, to be travelling alone, without any one to take care of us?" asked Birger, as the train whizzed along past fields and forests, lakes and rivers.
"No," replied Gerda, "it was too naughty to tell about;" and she put the rug quickly back into the chest. "I didn't know you were ever naughty," said Karen, laughing merrily. Then, as the two little girls put on their caps and took up their baskets to go flower-hunting, she asked, "Who is Ebba Jorn?" "She lives across the lake, and she is going to be married to-morrow," answered Gerda.
And even this other game, this contest of physical prowess, had ended in a hollow, mocking victory for the winner, since defeat had laid the loser more utterly in her lover's arms, more unshakably in his heart. Gerda, defeated and broken, had won everything. Won even that tribute which had been Nan's own. "You little sportsman," Barry had called her, with a break of tenderness in his voice.
"And now that the little girl from the lighthouse is going to live with the Ekmans this winter, I suppose the twins will forget all the rest of us." "Nonsense!" exclaimed Sigrid loyally. "They will never forget their friends. Besides, I like Karen myself. Let's go and see her now. She must be lonely without Gerda."
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