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第3章 名花有主的尤物

As she spoke a blaze of light sprang up before the windowsof the palace; fireworks crackled and guns banged, and acrossthe avenue of orange trees, in letters all made of fire-flies, waswritten: "Long live the Prince and his Bride."

"Oh! he is dead; and it is all my fault," said Beauty, crying

The merchant knew that this was meant for them, and Beauty,who was rather less frightened now that she had passed throughso many rooms and seen nothing of the Beast, was quite willing tobegin, for her long ride had made her very hungry. But they hadhardly finished their meal when the noise of the Beast's footstepswas heard approaching, and Beauty clung to her father in terror,which became all the greater when she saw how frightened hewas. But when the Beast really appeared, though she trembled atthe sight of him, she made a great effort to hide her horror, andsaluted him respectfully.

"Oh! what shall I say?" cried Beauty, for she was afraid tomake the Beast angry by refusing.

"Dear Beauty, try not to regret all you have left behind you,for you are destined to a better fate. Only do not let yourself bedeceived by appearances."

At first nobody would hear of this arrangement, and her fatherand brothers, who loved her dearly, declared that nothing shouldmake them let her go; but Beauty was firm. As the time drew nearshe divided all her little possessions between her sisters, and said

"I have indeed caused this misfortune, but I assure you I did itinnocently. Who could have guessed that to ask for a rose in themiddle of summer would cause so much misery? But as I did themischief it is only just that I should suffer for it. I will thereforego back with my father to keep his promise."

standing opposite the shady path she had seen in her dream. She

one answered, and not a trace of him could she find; until at last,