So once -- it was late on a Thursday evening in autumn , and wild weather outside , terribly dark , and raining so heavily and blowing so hard that the walls of the cottage shook again -- they were all sitting together by the fireside , each of them busy with something or other , when suddenly some one rapped three times against the window-pane . The man went out to see what could be the matter , and when he got out there stood a great big white bear . `` Good-evening to you , '' said the White Bear . `` Good-evening , '' said the man . `` Will you give me your youngest daughter ? '' said the White Bear ; `` if you will , you shall be as rich as you are now poor . '' Truly the man would have had no objection to be rich , but he thought to himself : `` I must first ask my daughter about this , '' so he went in and told them that there was a great white bear outside who had faithfully promised to make them all rich if he might but have the youngest daughter . She said no , and would not hear of it ; so the man went out again , and settled with the White Bear that he should come again next Thursday evening , and get her answer . Then the man persuaded her , and talked so much to her about the wealth that they would have , and what a good thing it would be for herself , that at last she made up her mind to go , and washed and mended all her rags , made herself as smart as she could , and held herself in readiness to set out . Little enough had she to take away with her . Next Thursday evening the White Bear came to fetch her . She seated herself on his back with her bundle , and thus they departed . When they had gone a great part of the way , the White Bear said : `` Are you afraid ? '' `` No , that I am not , '' said she . `` Keep tight hold of my fur , and then there is no danger , '' said he . And thus she rode far , far away , until they came to a great mountain . Then the White Bear knocked on it , and a door opened , and they went into a castle where there were many brilliantly lighted rooms which shone with gold and silver , likewise a large hall in which there was a well-spread table , and it was so magnificent that it would be hard to make anyone understand how splendid it was . The White Bear gave her a silver bell , and told her that when she needed anything she had but to ring this bell , and what she wanted would appear . So after she had eaten , and night was drawing near , she grew sleepy after her journey , and thought she would like to go to bed . She rang the bell , and scarcely had she touched it before she found herself in a chamber where a bed stood ready made for her , which was as pretty as anyone could wish to sleep in .
It had pillows of silk , and curtains of silk fringed with gold , and everything that was XXXXX the room was of gold or silver , but when she had lain down and put out the light a man came and lay down beside her , and behold it was the White Bear , who cast off the form of a beast during the night .
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