"You look," said the Queen, "as if you were very kind and patient."
The young Italian passed his hand lovingly over his companion's shaggy head, and as he looked up at the beautiful and smiling Queen his eyes filled with tears. "I love him," he said, simply; "he is my only friend." We, who stood near enough to hear, were trembling on the verge of weeping. He added, "We never leave each other; we eat and sleep together, and all I have I share with him."
I saw tears in the Queen's eyes, which she quickly wiped away; and, turning to the man, she asked, "Can he do any tricks?"
"Si, maesta, he can lie on his back and put his paws up in the air and hum."
This did not seem much of a trick, probably being a bear's customary attitude.
"Well," said the Queen, "let us see what he can do."
But, although the bear was addressed in terms of tenderest endearment and although we hoped that he would obey his master and do honor to the occasion, he did nothing of the kind. On the contrary, instead of lying down and humming he stood up his full height on his hind legs and began to waltz, swaying his long, plump body and shaking his thick, brown fur.
He opened his mouth wide, showing his white teeth and his great red tongue, and looked as if he were laughing and as if it was the funniest thing in the world that he was doing.
"He does not seem to be very obedient," smiled her Majesty.
"He is afraid," said the man, trying to make excuses for his pet.