Page 97 - СКАЗКИ СНЕЖНОГО ЭЛЬФА

‘Oh, grandpa, blood is coming back to her! You did it, you
did it!’
Snowyflake turned round at the voice to see Squir, jumping
enthusiastically on the floor.’
‘Was it you who said it, squirreling?’ Snowyflake wondered.
‘She understands our forest language!’ Squir chattered,
jumping up to the old man’s shoulder.
‘Does she? Happy to hear that.’ The old man smiled. ‘Now
you’re the full member of our company. Will you show your
hands?’
Snowyflake looked at her palms to see they were pink. The
deadly whiteness and also the scratches that always go with
country children left her hands. The old man told the girl to
take off het felt boots and examined her feet. Satisfied, he nod-
ded and told her to dress.
‘I want you to know me, girl. I’m Frost, the superintendent
of the winter forests, fields and hills, protecting their inhabit-
ants, those who run and fly. Who are you? How did you happen
to be trapped by the Witch? Why did you go to the forest alone?’
‘I’m Snowyflake, Father Frost. I wanted to fetch my mum a
cone branch for Christmas. My mum is ill and I wanted to please
her. What will become of me, grandpa? Will you let me see my
mum?’
‘Snowyflake? Such a tender, beautiful name!’ Frost smiled.
‘And you yourself are kind; I’ve heard so many nice things about
you from birds and animals. That’s why I’m going to take you
to your parents and ask them to allow you to be my student.
Don’t say ‘no’, Snowyflake, you’ve swallowed down the magic
elixir to be part of winter and part of forest. You’re going to un-

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