Almost at the same moment her father rushed in and hunted round in every corner , crying out : ` This place smells of men . What 's that you threw on the bed , Helga ? ' ' A bundle of wool , ' said she . ` Oh , well , perhaps it was that I smelt , ' said the old man , and troubled himself no more . The following day Helga went out to play and took the bundle of wool with her under her arm . When she reached the lake she held her glove over it again and Sigurd resumed his own shape . They played the whole day , and Sigurd taught Helga all sorts of games she had never even heard of . As they walked home in the evening she said : ` We shall be able to play better still to-morrow , for my father will have to go to the town , so we can stay at home . ' When they were near the house Helga again held her glove over Sigurd , and once more he was turned into a bundle of wool , and she carried him in without his being seen . Very early next morning Helga 's father went to the town , and as soon as he was well out of the way the girl held up her glove and Sigurd was himself again . Then she took him all over the house to amuse him , and opened every room , for her father had given her the keys before he left ; but when they came to the last room Sigurd noticed one key on the bunch which had not been used and asked which room it belonged to . ' Helga grew red and did not answer . ' I suppose you do n't mind my seeing the room which it opens ? ' asked Sigurd , and as he spoke he saw a heavy iron door and begged Helga to unlock it for him . But she told him she dared not do so , at least if she did open the door it must only be a very tiny chink ; and Sigurd declared that would do quite well . The door was so heavy , that it took Helga some time to open it , and Sigurd grew so impatient that he pushed it wide open and walked in . There he saw a splendid horse , all ready saddled , and just above it hung a richly ornamented sword on the handle of which was engraved these words : ` He who rides this horse and wears this sword will find happiness . ' At the sight of the horse Sigurd was so filled with wonder that he was not able to speak , but at last he gasped out : ` Oh , do let me mount him and ride him round the house ! Just once ; I promise not to ask any more . ' ` Ride him round the house ! '
cried Helga , growing pale XXXXX the mere idea .
above as at before for if of over that to