Oh! that was the princess.
Gerda turned to the little red bed. The prince was lying on his face, but the hair, surely it was Kay’s hair. She drew down the little red coverlet until she saw a brown neck. Yes! it was Kay’s neck, she felt sure.
“Kay, Kay, it is I, little Gerda, wake, wake.”
And the prince awoke. He turned his head. He opened his eyes—and—alas! alas! it was not little Kay.
Then Gerda cried and cried as if her heart would break. She cried until she awoke the princess, who started up bewildered.
“Who are you, little girl, and where do you come from, and what do you want?”
“Oh, I want Kay, little Kay, do you know where he is?” And Gerda told the princess all her story, and of what the ravens had done to help her.
“Poor little child,” said the princess, “how sad you must feel!”
“And how tired,” said the prince, and he jumped out of his little red bed, and made Gerda lie down.
The little girl was grateful indeed. She folded her hands and was soon fast asleep.