The merchant did as he was bid. The floor of the room was covered with
gold, and he filled the chest. If he must die, he would at least provide
for his children. Then he took his horse and rode out of the wood,
and came at last to his home. He held the rose in his hand, and as the
daughters came out to meet him, he gave it to the youngest, saying:--
“Take it, Beauty. You little know what it has cost your poor father;”
and then he told all that had happened since he left home.
The two eldest daughters began to cry aloud, and to blame Beauty. Why
did she ask for roses? Why did she not ask for dresses, as they did;
then all would have gone well. Now the hard-hearted thing, they said,
did not shed a tear. Beauty replied quietly that it was of little use to
weep. She meant to go and die in her father’s stead.
“No, no!” cried the three brothers. “We will go and seek this Beast, and
either he or we must die!”
“It is all in vain,” said the father. “You do not know the Beast. He
is more mighty than you can think. No! you must stay and care for
your sisters. At the end of three months I shall go back and die.” The
merchant then went to his room, and there he found the chest of gold.
He was greatly amazed. He had forgotten the promise of the Beast. But
he said nothing about the chest to his daughters. He was sure they would
tease him to go back to town to live.
Beauty said little, but when the three months were over, she made ready
to go with her father. The brothers and sisters bade them good-by, and
wept over Beauty. The brothers wept real tears, but the sisters rubbed
their eyes with onions, so as to make tears; they did not really care.
The horse took the right road, as if he knew the way, and when he came
to the palace, he went at once to the stable. The merchant and Beauty
entered the palace. They found the table spread for two persons, and
they sat down to it.
After supper there was a great roar as before, and the Beast entered.
Beauty trembled, and the Beast turned to her and said:--
“Did you come of your own self?”
“Yes,” said Beauty, still trembling.
“Then I thank you. But you, sir,” and he turned to the father, “get
you gone to-morrow, and never let me see your face again. Goodnight,
Beauty.”
“Good-night, Beast,” she replied, and Beast walked off. The merchant
begged and begged his daughter to leave him, and to go back to her home.
But she was firm, and when the morning came, she made him leave her.
“Surely,” he thought, “Beast will not hurt Beauty.”
Beauty wept, but she was a brave girl, and soon she dried her eyes, and
began to walk through the palace. She came to a door, and over it was
written Beauty’s Room. She opened the door, and found herself in a fine
chamber, with books, music and a harp, and many beautiful things.
“It cannot be that I have only a day to live,” she said, “for why should
all this be done for me?” She opened a book and saw written in letters
of gold: _Your wishes and commands shall be obeyed. You are here the
queen over everything_.
“Alas!” she thought, “I wish most of all I could see my father and know
what he is doing.” Just then her eyes fell on a large looking-glass,
and in it she saw her father just reaching home. Her sisters came out
to meet him. They tried to look sad, but it was plain that they were not
sorry to see him come home alone.
The sight in the glass was only for a moment, then it faded, and Beauty
turned away and in her mind thanked Beast for what he had done.
At noon she found dinner ready for her, and sweet music sounded as she
ate. But she saw nobody. At night Beast came and asked leave to sup with
her. Of course she could not say no, but she sat in a fright all through
supper. He did not speak for some time. Then he said:--
“Beauty, do you think me very ugly?”
“Yes, Beast; I cannot tell a lie. But I think you are very good.”
Nothing more was said, and Beauty was beginning to be rid of her fear,
when all at once he asked:--
“Beauty, will you marry me?” Beauty was in a fright again, but she
answered:--
“No, Beast.” He gave a great sigh which shook the house. Then he got up
from the table and said:--
“Good-night, Beauty,” and went away. Beauty was glad he had gone, but
she could not help pitying him.