She ran here and
there through the palace, and found it more beautiful than anything
she had ever imagined.
The most beautiful set of rooms in the palace had written over the
doors, "Beauty's Rooms," and in them she found books and music,
canary-birds and Persian cats, and everything that could be thought of
to make the time pass pleasantly.
"Oh, dear!" she said; "if only I could see my poor father I should be
almost happy."
As she spoke, she happened to look at a big mirror, and in it she saw
the form of her father reflected, just riding up to the door of his
cottage.
That night, when Beauty sat down to supper, the Beast came in.
"May I have supper with you?" said he.
"That must be as you please," said Beauty.
So the Beast sat down to supper with her, and when it was finished, he
said:
"I am very ugly, Beauty, and I am very stupid, but I love you; will
you marry me?"
"No, Beast," said Beauty gently.
The poor Beast sighed and went away.
And every night the same thing happened. He ate his supper with her,
and then asked her if she would marry him. And she always said, "No,
Beast."
All this time she was waited on by invisible hands, as though she had
been a queen.
Pages:
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434