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第7章 绝世快剑！

This morning she decided to amuse herself in the garden,for the sun shone, and all the fountains were playing; but shewas astonished to find that every place was familiar to her, andpresently she came to the brook where the myrtle trees weregrowing where she had first met the Prince in her dream, and thatmade her think more than ever that he must be kept a prisonerby the Beast. When she was tired she went back to the palace,and found a new room full of materials for every kind of work--ribbons to make into bows, and silks to work into flowers. Thenthere was an aviary full of rare birds, which were so tame thatthey flew to Beauty as soon as they saw her, and perched uponher shoulders and her head.

However, as he did not seem at all ferocious, and only saidgruffly:

Then turning to Beauty, he said:

Then she fell asleep instantly, and only woke up to hear theclock saying, "Beauty, Beauty," twelve times in its musical voice,which told her at once that she was really in the palace oncemore. Everything was just as before, and her birds were so gladto see her! but Beauty thought she had never known such a longday, for she was so anxious to see the Beast again that she felt as

So saying she opened a door, and found to her delight that itled into her own room, though she had thought it was quite theother side of the palace.

Beauty was so terrified by this dream that the next morningshe announced her intention of going back at once, and that verynight she said good-bye to her father and all her brothers andsisters, and as soon as she was in bed she turned her ring roundupon her finger, and said firmly:

"Now," said the Fairy to Beauty, "I suppose you would likeme to send for all your brothers and sisters to dance at yourwedding?"

Beauty found her supper served just at the time she preferredto have it, but she did not see anyone or hear a sound, and, thoughher father had warned her that she would be alone, she began tofind it rather dull.

Then he asked if she thought she could be happy in his palace;and Beauty answered that everything was so beautiful that shewould be very hard to please if she could not be happy. And afterabout an hour's talk Beauty began to think that the Beast was notnearly so terrible as she had supposed at first. Then he got up toleave her, and said in his gruff voice: