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第4章 闪焰队的要求

"Well, dear father," she said, "as you insist upon it, I beg thatyou will bring me a rose. I have not seen one since we camehere, and I love them so much."

Beauty answered bravely that she was quite prepared to stay.

"Do you love me, Beauty? Will you marry me?"

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.

"I am pleased with you," said the Beast. "As you have comeof your own accord, you may stay. As for you, old man," headded, turning to the merchant, "at sunrise to-morrow you willtake your departure. When the bell rings get up quickly and eatyour breakfast, and you will find the same horse waiting to takeyou home; but remember that you must never expect to see mypalace again."

"Can you really love such an ugly creature as I am?" said theBeast faintly. "Ah! Beauty, you only came just in time. I wasdying because I thought you had forgotten your promise. But goback now and rest, I shall see you again by-and-by."

But no one appeared, and even after another long sleep, fromwhich he awoke completely refreshed, there was no sign of any-body, though a fresh meal of dainty cakes and fruit was preparedupon the little table at his elbow. Being naturally timid, thesilence began to terrify him, and he resolved to search once morethrough all the rooms; but it was of no use. Not even a servantwas to be seen; there was no sign of life in the palace! He beganto wonder what he should do, and to amuse himself by pretendingthat all the treasures he saw were his own, and considering howhe would divide them among his children. Then he went downinto the garden, and though it was winter everywhere else, herethe sun shone, and the birds sang, and the flowers bloomed, andthe air was soft and sweet. The merchant, in ecstacies with all hesaw and heard, said to himself:

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

So they did this and returned to the little room, where, to theirastonishment, they found breakfast ready. The merchant ate hiswith a good appetite, as the Beast's generosity made him believethat he might perhaps venture to come back soon and see Beauty.But she felt sure that her father was leaving her for ever, so shewas very sad when the bell rang sharply for the second time, andwarned them that the time was come for them to part. They wentdown into the courtyard, where two horses were waiting, oneloaded with the two trunks, the other for him to ride. They werepawing the ground in their impatience to start, and the merchantwas forced to bid Beauty a hasty farewell; and as soon as he wasmounted he went off at such a pace that she lost sight of him inan instant. Then Beauty began to cry, and wandered sadly backto her own room. But she soon found that she was very sleepy,and as she had nothing better to do she lay down and instantlyfell asleep. And then she dreamed that she was walking by abrook b