Beautiful music came to her ears without her being able
to see the musicians, but the magic looking-glass was best of all, for
in it she could see whatever she wished. As the days went by, and her
slightest wish was granted, almost before she knew what she wanted,
she began to feel that the Beast must love her very dearly, and she
was very sorry to see how sad he looked every night when she said "No"
to his offer of marriage.
One day, she saw in her mirror that her father was ill, so that night
she said to the Beast:
"Dear Beast, you are so good to me, will you let me go home to see
my father? He is ill, and he thinks that I am dead. Do let me go and
cheer him up, and I will promise faithfully to return to you."
"Very well," said the Beast kindly, "but don't stay away more than
a week, for if you do, I shall die of grief, because I love you so
dearly."
"How shall I reach home?" said Beauty; "I do not know the way."
Then the Beast gave her a ring, and told her to put it on her finger
when she went to bed, turn the ruby towards the palm of her hand, and
then she would wake up in her father's cottage. When she wanted to
come back, she was to do the same thing.
So in the morning, when she awoke, she found herself at her father's
house, and the old man was beside himself with joy to see her safe and
sound.
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