` And what did they say ? ' ` Take it away at once ! ' So she took him . But when dinner-time came , and the boy did not return , his father and mother knew that he would never come back , and they sat down and wept all day . At last Halfman rose up and said to his wife , ` Be comforted ; we will wait a year , and then I will go to the ogress and see the boy , and how he is cared for . ' ` Yes , that will be the best , ' said she . The year passed away , then Halfman saddled his horse , and rode to the place where the ogress had found him sleeping . She was not there , but not knowing what to do next , he got off his horse and waited . About midnight she suddenly stood before him . ` Halfman , why did you come here ? ' said she . ' I have a question I want to ask you . ' ` Well , ask it ; but I know quite well what it is . Your wife wishes you to ask whether I shall carry off your second son as I did the first . ' ` Yes , that is it , ' replied Halfman . Then he seized her hand and said , ` Oh , let me see my son , and how he looks , and what he is doing . ' The ogress was silent , but stuck her staff hard in the earth , and the earth opened , and the boy appeared and said , ` Dear father , have you come too ? ' And his father clasped him in his arms , and began to cry . But the boy struggled to be free , saying ` Dear father , put me down . I have got a new mother , who is better than the old one ; and a new father , who is better than you . '
Then his father sat him down and said , ` Go in peace , my boy , but listen XXXXX to me .
Halfman arms day dinner-time first midnight ogress question second year