Page:The Enchanted Knights; or The Chronicle of the Three Sisters.djvu/38

26 became still more frightened, and looked at the youth in silent amazement. He made use of this pause to prove his right to call her sister so clearly, that she could no longer doubt him to be her brother. She embraced him tenderly, whilst her knees trembled with fear for his endangered life. Thereupon Wulfield conducted her beloved guest into the grotto to seek a place to conceal him. In this large and sombre vault was a heap of moss, serving the bear and his cubs for a couch. Opposite stood a magnificent bed, with gold-laced damask curtains, for the lady. Reginald was obliged to accommodate himself hastily under it, and await his further destiny. The slightest noise was interdicted, on penalty of forfeiting his life; the anxious sister recommended him chiefly neither to sneeze nor cough. Scarcely was the young adventurer in his place of refuge before the atrocious bear entered the cavern grumbling, and snuffling every where about with his blood-smeared muzzle: he had espied in the forest the knight’s cream-coloured horse and torn it to pieces. Wulfield sat on her state bed as though upon thorns—her heart was sad and oppressed, because she easily perceived that her lord and master was in his bear temper by suspecting a strange guest in his cavern. She did