When the show was over, it was late at night. 'It's no good your
going away, when it's so late', said the king. 'The bear had best
sleep here.'

'Perhaps it might sleep in the ingle by the kitchen fire', said the
captain.

'Nay', said the king, 'it shall sleep up here, and it shall have
pillows and cushions to sleep on.' So a whole heap of pillows and
cushions was brought, and the captain had a bed in a side-room.

But at midnight the king came with a lamp in his hand and a big bunch
of keys, and carried off the white bear. He passed along gallery
after gallery, through doors and rooms, up-stairs and down-stairs,
till at last he came to a pier which ran out into the sea. Then the
king began to pull and haul at posts and pins, this one up and that
one down, till at last a little house floated up to the water's edge.
There he kept his daughter, for she was so dear to him that he had
hid her, so that no one could find her out. He left the white bear
outside while he went in and told her how it had danced and played
its pranks. She said she was afraid, and dared not look at it; but he
talked her over, saying there was no danger, if she only wouldn't
laugh. So they brought the bear in, and locked the door, and it
danced and played its tricks; but just when the fun was at its
height, the Princess's maid began to laugh. Then the lad flew at her
and tore her to bits, and the Princess began to cry and sob.

'Stuff and nonsense', cried the king; 'all this fuss about a maid!
I'll get you just as good a one again. But now I think the bear had
best stay here till morning, for I don't care to have to go and lead