In vain did the poor old father weep and implore her pity ; she was firm , and he dared not gainsay her . So he placed his daughter in a sledge , not even daring to give her a horse-cloth to keep herself warm with , and drove her out on to the bare , open fields , where he kissed her and left her , driving home as fast as he could , that he might not witness her miserable death . Deserted by her father , the poor girl sat down under a fir-tree at the edge of the forest and began to weep silently . Suddenly she heard a faint sound : it was King Frost springing from tree to tree , and cracking his fingers as he went . At length he reached the fir-tree beneath which she was sitting , and with a crisp crackling sound he alighted beside her , and looked at her lovely face . ` Well , maiden , ' he snapped out , ` do you know who I am ? I am King Frost , king of the red-noses . ' ` All hail to you , great King ! ' answered the girl , in a gentle , trembling voice . ` Have you come to take me ? ' ` Are you warm , maiden ? ' he replied . ` Quite warm , King Frost , ' she answered , though she shivered as she spoke . Then King Frost stooped down , and bent over the girl , and the crackling sound grew louder , and the air seemed to be full of knives and darts ; and again he asked : ` Maiden , are you warm ? Are you warm , you beautiful girl ? ' And though her breath was almost frozen on her lips , she whispered gently , ` Quite warm , King Frost . ' Then King Frost gnashed his teeth , and cracked his fingers , and his eyes sparkled , and the crackling , crisp sound was louder than ever , and for the last time he asked her : ` Maiden , are you still warm ? Are you still warm , little love ? ' And the poor girl was so stiff and numb that she could just gasp , ` Still warm , O King ! ' Now her gentle , courteous words and her uncomplaining ways touched King Frost , and he had pity on her , and he wrapped her up in furs , and covered her with blankets , and he fetched a great box , in which were beautiful jewels and a rich robe embroidered in gold and silver .
And she put it on , and looked more lovely than ever , and King Frost stepped with her into his XXXXX , with six white horses .
Frost King darts face fir-tree girl horse-cloth left red-noses sledge