said the crow . ' I think -- I know I think -- it might be little Kay , but now he has forgotten you for the princess ! ' ` Does he live with a princess ? ' asked Gerda . ` Yes , listen , ' said the crow . Then he told her all he knew . ` In the kingdom in which we are now sitting lives a princess who is dreadfully clever . She has read all the newspapers in the world and has forgotten them again . She is as clever as that . The other day she came to the throne , and that is not so pleasant as people think . Then she began to say , `` Why should I not marry ? '' But she wanted a husband who could answer when he was spoken to , not one who would stand up stiffly and look respectable -- that would be too dull . ` When she told all the Court ladies , they were delighted . You can believe every word I say , ' said the crow , ' I have a tame sweetheart in the palace , and she tells me everything . ' Of course his sweetheart was a crow . ` The newspapers came out next morning with a border of hearts round it , and the princess 's monogram on it , and inside you could read that every good-looking young man might come into the palace and speak to the princess , and whoever should speak loud enough to be heard would be well fed and looked after , and the one who spoke best should become the princess 's husband . Indeed , ' said the crow , ` you can quite believe me . It is as true as that I am sitting here . ` Young men came in streams , and there was such a crowding and a mixing together ! But nothing came of it on the first nor on the second day .
They could all speak quite well when they were in the street , but XXXXX soon 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 !
after as for in inside into of on that with