cried the giant . ` Go home to thy mother ' ; and turning his back he strode straight to the castle . ` If you seek to trick me this time , the highest stone will soon be the lowest , ' said he , and the king and queen trembled , but they could not bear to give up their boy . ` The butler 's son is the same age as ours , ' whispered the queen ; ` he will not know the difference , ' and she took the child and dressed him in the prince 's clothes , and the giant let him away along the road . Before they had gone far he stopped , and held out a stick . ` If thy father had that rod , what would he do with it ? ' asked the giant . ` He would beat the dogs and cats that break the king 's glasses , ' answered the boy . ` Thou art the son of the butler ! ' cried the giant . ` Go home to thy mother ' ; and turning round he strode back angrily to the castle . ` Bring out thy son at once , ' roared he , ` or the stone that is highest will be lowest , ' and this time the real prince was brought . But though his parents wept bitterly and fancied the child was suffering all kinds of dreadful things , the giant treated him like his own son , though he never allowed him to see his daughters . The boy grew to be a big boy , and one day the giant told him that he would have to amuse himself alone for many hours , as he had a journey to make . So the boy wandered to the top of the castle , where he had never been before . There he paused , for the sound of music broke upon his ears , and opening a door near him , he beheld a girl sitting by the window , holding a harp . ` Haste and begone , I see the giant close at hand , ' she whispered hurriedly , ` but when he is asleep , return hither , for I would speak with thee . ' And the prince did as he was bid , and when midnight struck he crept back to the top of the castle . ` To-morrow , ' said the girl , who was the giant 's daughter , ` to-morrow thou wilt get the choice of my two sisters to marry , but thou must answer that thou wilt not take either , but only me . This will anger him greatly , for he wishes to betroth me to the son of the king of the Green City , whom I like not at all . '
Then they parted , and on the morrow , as the girl had XXXXX , the giant called his three daughters to him , and likewise the young prince to whom he spoke .
answered beat beheld crept holding roared said stopped take wept