The Father Bear stood watching her until she was out of sight, and then
he turned to Teddy. "Now, you Fairy," he said, "you may climb up onto my
back, and I'll carry you to my wife; she'll take good care of you for as
long as the Counterpane Fairy chooses to leave you here."

The three little bears cubs had disappeared, but as soon as the Father
Bear carried Teddy around the hill of ice he saw what had become of
them. They were sitting with the Mother Bear at the door of a cave. One
of them was sucking its paws, and the other two were talking as fast as
they could. The Mother Bear looked worried and anxious.

"What's all this Dumpy and Sprawley are telling me?" she said. "And
what's that you have on your back?"

"It's an ice-fairy," growled old Father Bear, "and the Counterpane Fairy
wants us to take care of it for a while. You don't mind, my dear, do
you?"

"Oh dear, dear!" said the Mother Bear, "I suppose not, but what shall we
give it to eat, and how shall we keep it?"

"Oh, it will do just the other cubs do, I suppose," said the Father
Bear. Then turning to Teddy he said, "You eat meat, don't you?"

"Yes, sir," answered Teddy, timidly.

"Then that's all right," said the Father Bear. "Here, you children,
take this fairy off and let him play with you."