and said, now they could set off
to see her father and mother. Well, off they started, she sitting on
his back; and they went far and long. At last they came to a grand
house, and there her brothers and sisters were running about out of
doors at play, and everything was so pretty, 'twas a joy to see.

"This is where your father and mother live now," said the _White
Bear_; "but don't forget what I told you, else you'll make us both
unlucky."

"No! bless her, she'd not forget;"--and when she had reached the
house, the _White Bear_ turned right about and left her.

Then, when she went in to see her father and mother, there was such
joy, there was no end to it. None of them thought they could thank her
enough for all she had done for them. Now, they had everything they
wished, as good as good could be, and they all wanted to know how she
got on where she lived.

Well, she said, it was very good to live where she did; she had all
she wished. What she said beside I don't know, but I don't think any
of them had the right end of the stick, or that they got much out of
her. But so, in the afternoon, after they had done dinner, all
happened as the _White Bear_ had said. Her mother wanted to talk with
her alone in her bedroom; but she minded what the _White Bear_ had
said, and wouldn't go upstairs.

"Oh! what we have to talk about will keep!" she said, and put her
mother off. But, somehow or other, her mother got round her at last,
and she had to tell her the whole story. So she said, how every night
when she had gone to bed a man came and lay down beside her as soon as
she had put out the light; and how she never saw him, because he was
always up and away before the morning dawned; and how she went about
woeful and sorrowing, for she thought she should so like to see him;
and how all day long she walked about there alone; and how dull and
dreary and lonesome it was.

"My!" said her mother; "it may well be a Troll you slept with! But now
I'll teach you a lesson how to set eyes on him. I'll give you a bit of
candle, which you can carry home in your bosom; just light that while
he is asleep, but take care not to drop the tallow on him."

Yes! she took the candle and hid it in her bosom, and as night drew
on, the _White Bear_ came and fetched her away.

But when they had gone a bit of the way, the _White Bear_ asked if all
hadn't happened as he had said.

"Well, she couldn't say it hadn't."

"Now, mind," said he, "if you