_Self-sacrifice is a noble trait of character and sometimes brings
an unexpected reward._
You can imagine how the older sisters acted when they heard their
father’s sad story. When the time came for the merchant to go,
Beauty declared that she would go with him and die in his stead.
So Beauty and her father set out for the palace of the Beast.
They entered the palace gate, and the horse found his way to the
stable and began to eat as before. In the house they found the fire
burning and the table spread for two persons. After supper there
was a great roaring, and the Beast entered and said to Beauty: “Did
you come of your own accord?” Beauty replied, “I did.”
Then the beast made the merchant leave the palace and go back to
his own home, but Beauty had to stay in the palace until the beast
had made up his mind what to do.
Beauty bade her father good-by, and then began to walk through the
palace. She came to a room marked “Beauty’s Room.” It was full of
books, fine furniture, and many beautiful things. Among the rest
was a looking-glass in which she could see her father on his way
home--and all that he was doing. That very night she saw him reach
home. He looked very sad, but Beauty thought her sisters looked
glad that he was alone.
The next day Beauty found everything ready for her everywhere. Her
meals were ready and sweet music sounded when she ate. At night the
Beast came and took supper with her. He said nothing and Beauty was
frightened for fear he would be angry. At last he said:
“Beauty, do you think I am ugly?” Beauty could not deceive him, so
she said: “Yes, but you are very good.” Then the Beast smiled and
left her.
Every night he came and took supper with Beauty and asked her the
same question. Every time he smiled at her answer, and somehow,
every time he smiled he looked less and less terrible than before.
Time passed and Beauty saw the Beast every day. One day she looked
in her mirror and saw her father lying ill at home. She begged the
Beast to let her go to him.
“Be back in ten days, or I shall have to die,” said the Beast, and
at once she was at home and her father was holding her hand. But
in ten days he was well, and Beauty thought of the Beast. “I wish
I were with him,” said Beauty, and so it was, for at once she was
in the palace again. Beauty wished for the Beast and when he came
in to supper she went up and kissed him on the cheek and said: “You
are not ugly and I love you!”
And then what do you think? He was the Beast no longer for the
charm was broken and he became a prince and turned to Beauty and
said: “You have freed me from the charm of a wicked fairy. You said
I was not ugly and that you loved me. That has set me free,” and
he took her by the hand and kissed her. Thus it was that Beauty
became the wife of a prince and lived happy ever after.