` Yes , we have seen that , ' said both children ; they knew that it was true . ` Can the Snow-queen come in here ? ' asked the little girl . ` Just let her ! ' cried the boy , ' I would put her on the stove , and melt her ! ' But the grandmother stroked his hair , and told some more stories . In the evening , when little Kay was going to bed , he jumped on the chair by the window , and looked through the little hole . A few snow-flakes were falling outside , and one of the , the largest , lay on the edge of one of the window-boxes . The snow-flake grew larger and larger till it took the form of a maiden , dressed in finest white gauze . She was so beautiful and dainty , but all of ice , hard bright ice . Still she was alive ; her eyes glittered like two clear stars , but there was no rest or peace in them . She nodded at the window , and beckoned with her hand . The little boy was frightened , and sprang down from the chair . It seemed as if a great white bird had flown past the window . The next day there was a harder frost than before . Then came the spring , then the summer , when the roses grew and smelt more beautifully than ever . Kay and Gerda were looking at one of their picture-books -- the clock in the great church-tower had just struck five , when Kay exclaimed , ` Oh ! something has stung my heart , and I 've got something in my eye ! ' The little girl threw her arms round his neck ; he winked hard with both his eyes ; no , she could see nothing in them . ' I think it is gone now , ' said he ; but it had not gone .
It was one of the tiny splinters of the glass of the magic mirror which we have heard about , XXXXX turned everything great and good reflected in it small and ugly .
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