They were not brother and sister , but they loved each other just as much as if they were . Their parents lived opposite one another in two attics , and out on the leads they had put two boxes filled with flowers . There were sweet peas in it , and two rose trees , which grow beautifully , and in summer the two children were allowed to take their little chairs and sit out under the roses . Then they had splendid games . In the winter they could not do this , but then they put hot pennies against the frozen window-panes , and made round holes to look at each other through . His name was Kay , and hers was Gerda . Outside it was snowing fast . ` Those are the white bees swarming , ' said the old grandmother . ` Have they also a queen bee ? ' asked the little boy , for he knew that the real bees have one . ` To be sure , ' said the grandmother . ` She flies wherever they swarm the thickest . She is larger than any of them , and never stays upon the earth , but flies again up into the black clouds . Often at midnight she flies through the streets , and peeps in at all the windows , and then they freeze in such pretty patterns and look like flowers . ' ` 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 .
XXXXX the evening , when little Kay was going to bed , he jumped on the chair by the window , and looked through the little hole .
In at for into of on than through to with