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第1章 奇怪的九月上神

"Let us wait and see," answered Beauty. "I cannot believe thathe meant to deceive us. All we can do is to fasten them up andleave them ready."

"What is the matter?" she cried.

"All this must be meant for me. I will go this minute and bringmy children to share all these delights."

But then, looking at him again, she fancied he still breathed,

e wouldnot be enough even to read the names of the books, there were so

"What would that matter to you?" said the Prince. "Surely youwould not care?"

ordered with trees, and lamenting her sad fate, when ayoung prince, handsomer than anyone she had ever seen, andwith a voice that went straight to her heart, came and said to her,"Ah, Beauty! you are not so unfortunate as you suppose. Here

"Ah!" cried the merchant, "if I were cruel enough to buy myown life at the expense of one of my children's, what excusecould I invent to bring her here?"

Just then a strange sound woke her--someone was speakingnot very far away; and opening her eyes she found herself in aroom she had never seen before, which was certainly not nearlyso splendid as those she was used to in the Beast's palace. Wherecould she be? She got up and dressed hastily, and then sawthat the boxes she had packed the night before were all in theroom. While she was wondering by what magic the Beast hadtransported them and herself to this strange place she suddenlyheard her father's voice, and rushed out and greeted him joyfully.Her brothers and sisters were all astonished at her appearance,as they had never expected to see her again, and there was noend to the questions they asked her. She had also much to hearabout what had happened to them while she was away, and ofher father's journey home. But when they heard that she had onlycome to be with them for a short time, and then must go back tothe Beast's palace for ever, they lamented loudly. Then Beautyasked her father what he