Page 21 - The She-Bear

Meanwhile Preziosa went out, and took her
way to a wood, where the Shades were holding
a consultation how they might do some
mischief to the Sun at the close of day. And
there she stayed, in the pleasant companionship
of the other animals, until the son of the King
of Running-Water came to hunt in that part of
the country, who, at the sight of the bear, had
like to have died on the spot. But when he saw
the beast come gently up to him, wagging her
tail like a little dog and rubbing her sides
against him, he took courage, and patted her,
and said, "Good bear, good bear! there, there!
poor beast, poor beast!" Then he led her home
and ordered that she should be taken great care
of; and he had her put into a garden close to the
royal palace, that he might see her from the
window whenever he wished.
One day, when all the people of the house were
gone out, and the Prince was left alone, he
went to the window to look out at the bear;
and there he beheld Preziosa, who had taken
the piece of wood out of her mouth, combing
her golden tresses. At the sight of this beauty,
which was beyond the beyonds, he had like to
have lost his senses with amazement, and
tumbling down the stairs he ran out into the
garden. But Preziosa, who was on the watch
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