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第1章 我会帮你摆平

Beauty could not help seeing that this seemed very probable;still, when she thought of her dear Prince who was so handsome,she did not feel at all inclined to marry the Beast. At any rate,for two months she need not decide, but could enjoy herselfwith her sisters. But though they were rich now, and lived in atown again, and had plenty of acquaintances, Beauty found thatnothing amused her very much; and she often thought of the

paths and avenues ran poor Beauty, calling him in vain, for no

Beauty, who had half expected that he would be angry withher, was reassured by his gentle voice, and went back to thepalace, where supper was awaiting her; and afterwards the Beastcame in as usual, and talked about the time she had spent withher father, asking if she had enjoyed herself, and if they had allbeen very glad to see her.

"What is the matter?" she cried.

him a flight of agate steps, and went up them, and passed throughseveral splendidly furnished rooms. The pleasant warmth of theair revived him, and he felt very hungry; but there seemed to benobody in all this vast and splendid palace whom he could askto give him something to eat. Deep silence reigned everywhere,and at last, tired of roaming through empty rooms and galleries,he stopped in a room smaller than the rest, where a clear fire wasburning and a couch was drawn up cosily close to it. Thinkingthat this must be prepared for someone who was expected, he satdown to wait till he should come, and very soon fell into a sweetsleep.

found him, she ran up and stroked his head, but to her horror he

But one day a most unexpected misfortune befell them. Theirhouse caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, withall the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, andprecious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning oftheir troubles. Their father, who had until this moment prosperedin all ways, suddenly lost every ship he had upon the sea, eitherby dint of pirates, shipwreck, or fire. Then he heard that hisclerks in distant countries, whom he trusted entirely, had provedunfaithful; and at last from great wealth he fell into the direstpoverty.

and, hastily fetching some water from the nearest fountain, she

"No, dear Beast," answered Beauty softly, "I do not hate you,and I should be very sorry never to see you any more, but I longto see my father again. Only let me go for two months, and I