Page:The Enchanted Knights; or The Chronicle of the Three Sisters.djvu/40

him to be of good cheer, as the greatest danger had already passed. Reginald was so tired by the events of the day that shortly he fell into a deep slumber, and snored as if he wished to outdo his brother-in-law, the bear. On awakening he found himself on a splendid couch, in a silk-tapestried room; the morning sun shone brilliantly through the drawn curtains; on a velvet-covered stool close to the bed lay his dress, with his knightly armour, and a silver bell to ring for the servants. He could not imagine how he happened to be transported from the awful cavern to this splendid palace, and doubted if he were dreaming now—or whether his adventure had been a dream. To ascertain the truth he rang the bell—a well dressed valet-de-chambre entered, asked for orders, and announced that his sister, Wulfield, and her husband, Albert the bear, ardently desired to see him. The young count could not overcome his surprize; and, though at the mention of the bear a shudder ran through his frame, he quickly dressed and stepped into the outer room—there pages, runners, and heiduques were awaiting him. With this suite he traversed many most splendid apartments and ante-chambers, and at last arrived at the audience hall, where his sister received him with the