Ah, I knew it,' said the mother. That bear is certainly a troll; he can turn himself into whatever form he likes Now I'll tell you what to do. Take this wax candle and at nightfall light it and carry it into the bear's bedchamber Cast the light up his face, but be careful not to drop wax on him lest he wake. That would be the worse for you
so badly did she frighten her daughter that the poor girl was ready to do anything her mother said. At the appointed hour of the evening, the polar bear returned for the young girl. she said goodbye to her family and set off on her return to the underground palace.
Before they had covered half the distance, the bear asked her whether she had kept her word. Unable to tell a lie, the girl confessed to what had passed between her mother and herself. Oh dear the bear sighed. What done is done. But I beg you, do not do as your mother commands. Just be patient for a little longer and you will learn all there is to know
the girl had grown fond of the gentle bear and felt sorry for him. she did not really believe her mother's story that he was an evil troll. Yet when she returned to the palace and lay down to sleep in her bedchamber, all her fears came back to her
In the depths of the night, she slipped out of bed, lit her wax candle and crept on tiptoe into the bear' s bedchamber. stealthily she went up to his bed and raised the candle above him. As the light fell upon his face, she saw clearly that he was not a troll. He was, in fact, the handsomest young man she had ever seen. Yet even in repose his face was full of sorrow. The girl bent over him to take a better look and, in so doing, she tilted the candle and three hot drops of wax fell upon the young man' s breast. He work up with a start and stared at the girl in horror. What have you done! he cried, covering his face in his hands. Now both of us are doomed. If only you had listened to me and waited just three more days, you