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 XXXXX all , and he was so ragged that one hole ran into another all over his clothes .
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