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第5章 一颗玉籽

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

But this reply vexed her sisters, who fancied she was blamingthem for having asked for such costly things. Her father, how-ever, was pleased, but as he thought that at her age she certainlyought to like pretty presents, he told her to choose something.

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.

"A king's ransom would hardly have procured all that my otherdaughters asked," he said; "but I thought that I might at least takeBeauty her rose. I beg you to forgive me, for you see I meant noharm."

if supper-time would never come.

Beauty answered bravely that she was quite prepared to stay.

At first nobody would hear of this arrangement, and her fatherand brothers, who loved her dearly, declared that nothing shouldmake them let her go; but Beauty was firm. As the time drew nearshe divided all her little possessions between her sisters, and said

"You are very ready with excuses and flattery," he cried; "butthat will not save you from the death you deserve."

"Good-evening, Beast."