O Kay , my little Kay ! ' sobbed Gerda . ` You must lie still , ' said the little robber-girl , ` or else I shall stick my knife into you ! ' In the morning Gerda told her all that the wood-pigeons had said . She nodded . ` Do you know where Lapland is ? ' she asked the reindeer . ` Who should know better than I ? ' said the beast , and his eyes sparkled . ' I was born and bred there on the snow-fields . ' ` Listen ! ' said the robber-girl to Gerda ; ` you see that all the robbers have gone ; only my mother is left , and she will fall asleep in the afternoon -- then I will do something for you ! ' When her mother had fallen asleep , the robber-girl went up to the reindeer and said , ' I am going to set you free so that you can run to Lapland . But you must go quickly and carry this little girl to the Snow-queen 's palace , where her playfellow is . You must have heard all that she told about it , for she spoke loud enough ! ' The reindeer sprang high for joy . The robber-girl lifted little Gerda up , and had the foresight to tie her on firmly , and even gave her a little pillow for a saddle . ` You must have your fur boots , ' she said , ` for it will be cold ; but I shall keep your muff , for it is so cosy ! But , so that you may not freeze , here are my mother 's great fur gloves ; they will come up to your elbows . Creep into them ! '
And Gerda cried XXXXX joy .
about afternoon for in into on playfellow than that to