THE SNOW QUEEN
there she stands, as though on a stalk. 'I can look at myself!—I see myself!'
'I don't care if you do!' said Gerda. 'You need not have told me that!' and away she ran to the end of the garden.
The gate was closed, but she pressed upon the rusty lock till it broke. The gate sprang open, and little Gerda, with bare feet, ran out into the wide world. Three times she looked back, there was no one following her; she ran till she could run no longer, and then sat down to rest upon a large stone. Casting a glance around, she saw that the summer was past, that it was now late in the autumn. Of course, she had not remarked this in the enchanted garden, where there were sunshine and flowers all the year round.
'How long I must have stayed there!' said little Gerda. 'So, it is now autumn! Well, then, there is no time to lose!' and she rose to pursue her way.
Oh, how sore and weary were her little feet; and all around looked so cold and barren. The long willow-leaves had already turned yellow, and the dew trickled down from them like water. The leaves fell off the trees, one by one; the sloe alone bore fruit, and its berries were so sharp and bitter! Cold, and grey, and sad seemed the world to her that day.
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