He would be so pleased to see her , and to hear how they all were at home . Now they were on the stairs ; a little lamp was burning , and on the landing stood the tame crow . She put her head on one side and looked at Gerda , who bowed as her grandmother had taught her . ` My betrothed has told me many nice things about you , my dear young lady , ' she said . ` Will you take the lamp while I go in front ? We go this way so as to meet no one . ' Through beautiful rooms they came to the sleeping-room . In the middle of it , hung on a thick rod of gold , were two beds , shaped like lilies , one all white , in which lay the princess , and the other red , in which Gerda hoped to find Kay . She pushed aside the curtain , and saw a brown neck . Oh , it was Kay ! She called his name out loud , holding the lamp towards him . He woke up , turned his head and -- it was not Kay ! It was only his neck that was like Kay 's , but he was young and handsome . The princess sat up in her lily-bed and asked who was there . Then Gerda cried , and told her story and all that the crows had done . ` You poor child ! ' said the prince and princess , and they praised the crows , and said that they were not angry with them , but that they must not do it again . Now they should have a reward . ` Would you like to fly away free ? ' said the princess , ` or will you have a permanent place as court crows with what you can get in the kitchen ? '
And both crows bowed and asked for a permanent appointment , for they thought XXXXX their old age .
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