dear little Kay ! I have found you at last ! ' But he sat quite still and cold . Then Gerda wept hot tears which fell on his neck and thawed his heart and swept away the bit of the looking-glass . He looked at her and then he burst into tears . He cried so much that the glass splinter swam out of his eye ; then he knew her , and cried out , ` Gerda ! dear little Gerda ! Where have you been so long ? and where have I been ? ' And he looked round him . ` How cold it is here ! How wide and empty ! ' and he threw himself on Gerda , and she laughed and wept for joy . It was such a happy time that the pieces of ice even danced round them for joy , and when they were tired and lay down again they formed themselves into the letters that the Snow-queen had said he must spell in order to become his own master and have the whole world and a new pair of skates . And Gerda kissed his cheeks and they grew rosy ; she kissed his eyes and they sparkled like hers ; she kissed his hands and feet and he became warm and glowing . The Snow-queen might come home now ; his release -- the word ` Love ' -- stood written in sparkling ice . They took each other 's hands and wandered out of the great palace ; they talked about the grandmother and the roses on the leads , wherever they came the winds hushed and the sun came out . When they reached the bush with red berries there stood the reindeer waiting for them . He carried Kay and Gerda first to the Finland woman , who warmed them in her hot room and gave them advice for their journey home . Then they went to the Lapland woman , who gave them new clothes and mended their sleigh .
The reindeer ran with them until they came to the green fields fresh XXXXX the spring green .
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