nd and hold tight by my shaggy coat, and then
there's nothing to fear," said the Bear, so she rode a long, long way.]

Next Thursday evening came the _White Bear_ to fetch her, and she got
upon his back with her bundle, and off they went. So, when they had
gone a bit of the way, the _White Bear_ said:

"Are you afraid?"

"No," she wasn't.

"Well! mind and hold tight by my shaggy coat, and then there's
nothing to fear," said the _Bear_.

So she rode a long, long way, till they came to a great steep hill.
There, on the face of it, the _White Bear_ gave a knock, and a door
opened, and they came into a castle where there were many rooms all
lit up; rooms gleaming with silver and gold; and there, too, was a
table ready laid, and it was all as grand as grand could be. Then the
_White Bear_ gave her a silver bell; and when she wanted anything, she
was only to ring it, and she would get it at once.

Well, after she had eaten and drunk, and evening wore on, she got
sleepy after her journey, and thought she would like to go to bed, so
she rang the bell; and she had scarce taken hold of it before she came
into a chamber where there was a bed made, as fair and white as any
one would wish to sleep in, with silken pillows and curtains and gold
fringe. All that was in the room was gold or silver; but when she had
gone to bed and put out the light, a man came and laid himself
alongside her. That was the _White Bear_, who threw off his beast
shape at night; but she never saw him, for he always came after she
had put out the light, and before the day dawned he was up and off
again. So things went on happily for a while, but at last she began to
get silent and sorrowful; for there she went about all day alone, and
she longed to go home to see her father and mother and brothers and
sisters. So one day, when the _White Bear_ asked what it was that she
lacked, she said it was so dull and lonely there, and how she longed
to go home to see her father and mother and brothers and sisters, and
that was why she was so sad and sorrowful, because she couldn't get to
them.

"Well, well!" said the _Bear_, "perhaps there's a cure for all this;
but you must promise me one thing, not to talk alone with your mother,
but only when the rest are by to hear; for she'll take you by the hand
and try to lead you into a room alone to talk; but you must mind and
not do that, else you'll bring bad luck on both of us."

So one Sunday the _White Bear_ came