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and then straight on inside the castle。 There a Princess was sitting；
who was so beautiful that there was never anyone to equal her。 She
too said what the others had said； that no Christian folk had ever
been there since she had come； and entreated him to go away again；
or else the Troll would swallow him up alive。 The Troll had nine
heads； she told him。
‘Yes； and if he had nine added to the nine； and then nine more
still； I would not go away；' said Halvor； and went and stood by the
stove。
The Princess begged him very prettily to go lest the Troll
should devour him； but Halvor said； ‘Let him come when he
will。'
So she gave him the Troll's sword； and bade him take a drink
from the flask to enable him to wield it。
At that same moment the Troll came； breathing hard； and he
was ever so much bigger and stouter than either of the others； and
he too was forced to go sideways to get in through the door。
‘Hutetu！ what a smell of Christian blood there is here！' said he。
Then Halvor cut off the first head； and after that the others； but
the last was the toughest of them all； and it was the hardest work
that Halvor had ever done to get it off； but he still believed that
he would have strength enough to do it。
And now all the Princesses came to the castle； and were together
again； and they were happier than they had ever been in their lives；
and they were delighted with Halvor； and he with them； and he
was to choose the one he liked best； but of the three sisters the
youngest loved him best。
But Halvor went about and was so strange and so mournful
and quiet that the Princesses asked what it was that he longed for；
and if he did not like to be with them。 He said that he did like to
be with them； for they had enough to live on； and he was very
comfortable there； but he longed to go home； for his father and mother
were alive； and he had a great desire to see them again。
They thought that this might easily be done。
‘You shall go and return in perfect safety if you will follow our
advice；' said the Princesses。
So he said that he would do nothing that they did not wish。
Then they dressed him so splendidly that he was like a King's
son； and they put a ring on his finger； and it was one which would
enable him to go there and back again by wishing； but they told
him that he must not throw it away； or name their names； for if he
did； all his magnificence would be at an end； and then he would never
see them more。
‘If I were but at home again； or if home were but here！' said
Halvor； and no sooner had he wished this than it was granted。
Halvor was standing outside his father and mother's cottage before
he knew what he was about。 The darkness of night was coming
on； and when the father and mother saw such a splendid and stately
stranger walk in； they were so startled that they both began to bow
and curtsey。
Halvor then inquired if he could stay there and have lodging for
the night。 No； that he certainly could not。 ‘We can give you no
such accommodation；' they said； ‘for we have none of the things that
are needful when a great lord like you is to be entertained。 It will
be better for you to go up to the farm。 It is not far off； you can see
the chimney…pots from here； and there they have plenty of everything。'
Halvor would not hear of that； he was absolutely determined to
stay where he was； but the old folks stuck to what they had said；
and told him that he was to go to the farm； where he could get both
meat and drink； whereas they themselves had not even a chair to
offer him。
‘No；' said Halvor； ‘I will not go up there till early to…morrow
morning； let me stay here to…night。 I can sit down on the
hearth。'
They could say nothing against that； so Halvor sat down on the
hearth； and began to rake about among the ashes just as he had
done before； when he lay there idling away his time。
They chattered much about many things； and told Halvor of
this and of that； and at last he asked them if they had never had
any child。
‘Yes；' they said； they had had a boy who was called Halvor；
but they did not know where he had gone； and they could not even
say whether he were dead or alive。
‘Could I be he？' said Halvor。
‘I should know him well enough；' said the old woman rising。
‘Our Halvor was so idle and slothful that he never did anything at
all； and he was so ragged that one hole ran into another all over
his clothes。 Such a fellow as he was could never turn into such a
man as you are； sir。'
In a short time the old woman had to go to the fireplace to stir
the fire； and when the blaze lit up Halvor； as it used to do when he
was at home raking up the ashes； she knew him again。
‘Good Heavens！ is that you； Halvor？' said she； and such great
gladness fell on the old parents that there were no bounds to it。 And
now he had to relate everything that had befallen him； and the old
woman was so delighted with him that she would take him up to
the farm at once to show him to the girls who had formerly looked
down on him so。 She went there first； and Halvor followed her。
When she got there she told them how Halvor had come home
again； and now they should just see how magnificent he was。 ‘He
looks like a prince；' she said。
‘We shall see that he is just the same ragamuffin that he was
before；' said the girls； tossing their heads。
At that same moment Halvor entered； and the girls were so
astonished that they left their kirtles lying in the chimney corner；
and ran away in nothing but their petticoats。 When they came
in again they were so shamefaced that they hardly dared to look
at Halvor； towards whom they had always been so proud and
haughty before。
‘Ay； ay！ you have always thought that you were so pretty and
dainty that no one was equal to you；' said Halvor； ‘but you should
just see the eldest Princess whom I set free。 You look like herds…
women compared with her； and the second Princess is also much
prettier than you； but the youngest； who is my sweetheart； is more
beautiful than either sun or moon。 I wish to Heaven they were
here； and then you would see them。'
Scarcely had he said this before they were standing by his side；
but then he was very sorrowful； for the words which they had said
to him came to his mind。
Up at the farm a great feast was made ready for the Princesses；
and much respect paid to them； but they would not stay there。
‘We want to go down to your parents；' they said to Halvor； ‘so
we will go out and look about us。'
He followed them out； and they came to a large pond outside
the farm…house。 Very near the water there was a pretty green
bank； and there the Princesses said they would sit down and while
away an hour； for they thought that it would be pleasant to sit and
look out over the water； they said。
There they sat down； and when they had sat for a short time
the youngest Princess said； ‘I may as