on as they came inside the palace door, and saw the guards in silver,
and upstairs the footmen in gold, and the great hall all lighted up,
then their wits left them! And when they stood in front of the throne
where the princess was sitting, then they could not think of anything to
say except to repeat the last word she had spoken, and she did not much
care to hear that again. It seemed as if they were walking in their
sleep until they came out into the street again, when they could speak
once more. There was a row stretching from the gate of the town up to
the castle.

'They were hungry and thirsty, but in the palace they did not even get a
glass of water.

'A few of the cleverest had brought some slices of bread and butter
with them, but they did not share them with their neighbour, for they
thought, "If he looks hungry, the princess will not take him!"'

'But what about Kay?' asked Gerda. 'When did he come? Was he in the
crowd?'

'Wait a bit; we are coming to him! On the third day a little figure came
without horse or carriage and walked jauntily up to the palace. His eyes
shone as yours do; he had lovely curling hair, but quite poor clothes.'

'That was Kay!' cried Gerda with delight. 'Oh, then I have found him!'
and she clapped her hands.

'He had a little bundle on his back,' said the crow.

'No, it must have been his skates, for he went away with his skates!'

'Very likely,' said the crow, 'I did not see for certain. But I know
this from my sweetheart, that when he came to the palace door and saw
the royal guards in silver, and on the stairs the footmen in gold, he
was not the least bit put out. He nodded to them, saying, "It must be
rather dull standing on the stairs; I would rather go inside!"

'The halls blazed with lights; councillors and ambassadors were walking
about in noiseless shoes carrying gold dishes. It was enough to make one
nervous! His boots creaked dreadfully loud, but he was not frightened.'

'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 littl