At last he began to long to go home for a little to see his parents.
His Queen did not like this; but at last his heart was so set on it,
and he longed and longed so much, there was no holding him back, so
she said,

'One thing you must promise me. This--Only to do what your father
begs you to do, and not what your mother wishes'; and that he
promised.

Then she gave him a ring, which was of that kind that any one who
wore it might wish two wishes. So he wished himself home, and when he
got home his parents could not wonder enough what a grand man their
son had become.

Now, when he had been at home some days, his mother wished him to go
up to the palace and show the king what a fine fellow he had come to
be. But his father said:

'No! don't let him do that; if he does, we shan't have any more joy
of him this time.'

But it was no good, the mother begged and prayed so long, that at
last he went. So when he got up to the palace, he was far braver,
both in clothes and array, than the other king, who didn't quite like
this, and at last he said:

'All very fine; but here you can see my queen, what like she is, but
I can't see yours, that I can't. Do you know, I scarce think she's so
good-looking as mine.'