t and drink, and carried away pockets full of tobacco and cigars,
but it was rather pathetic to see the worn-out and weary farmers
dragging their tired limbs slowly and ponderously down the avenue with
a look of "Why all this?" depicted on their faces.

MONZA, _October 17th_.

After luncheon to-day we went out on the terrace to drink our coffee.
The sun was warm and the air deliciously cool, a typical Italian autumn
day. As we sat there we heard some mysterious noise which came from the
side of the park where the avenue terminates and is divided from the
deer-park by a large iron gate.

Looking down the avenue, we saw a man peering through the bars of the
gate. He had a bear with him. Her Majesty was curious to see them and
ordered the gate unlocked and the man and the bear permitted to enter.
The man was quite young, with soft black eyes and dazzling teeth. He
led the bear by a heavy iron chain passed through a ring in its nose.
The Queen went down the steps and talked with him.

"Will he bite me if I pat him?" she asked.

"No, signora; he is very good" ("_E molto buono_"). He hesitated a
moment, and then said, "Signora, will you tell me which of the ladies
there is the _Regina_?" The Queen was immensely amused, and answered,
"I am the Queen" ("_Son io la Regina_"). The young fellow was quite
overcome, and threw himself on the ground and kissed the hem of her
dress.

"How did you tame the bear?" inquired her Majesty.

He answered in a very agitated voice: "_Maesta_, it was very easy.
Bears are not difficult to tame. One must only be kind and patient."

"You look," said the Queen, "as if _you_ were very kind and patient."

The young Italian passed his hand lovingly over his companion's shaggy
head, and as he looked up at the beautiful and smiling Queen his eyes
filled with tears. "I love him," he said, simply; "he is my only
friend." We, who stood near enough to hear, were trembling on the verge
of weeping. He added, "We never leave each other; we eat and sleep
together, and all I have I share with him."

I saw tears in the Queen's eyes, which she quickly wiped away; and,
turning to the man, she asked, "Can he do any tricks?"

"_Si, maesta_, he can lie on his back and put his paws up in the air
and hum."

This did not seem much of a trick, probably being a bear's customary
attitude.

"Well," said the Queen, "let us see what he can do."

But, although the bear was addressed in terms of tenderest endear