so one day, 'twas on a thursday evening late at the fall of the year, the weather was so wild and rough outside, and it was so cruelly dark, and rain fell and wind blew, till the walls of the cottage shook again. there they all sat round the fire, busy with this thing and that. but just then, all at once something gave three taps on the window-pane. then the father went out to see what was the matter; and, when he got out of doors, what should he see but a great big white bear.