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第0章 他开船先走了？

"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."

But this excited their curiosity so greatly that presently hetold them his adventures from beginning to end, and then theywere all very unhappy. The girls lamented loudly over their losthopes, and the sons declared that their father should not returnto this terrible castle, and began to make plans for killing theBeast if it should come to fetch him. But he reminded them thathe had promised to go back. Then the girls were very angrywith Beauty, and said it was all her fault, and that if she hadasked for something sensible this would never have happened,and complained bitterly that they should have to suffer for herfolly.

His sons and daughters, who had been very uneasy at his longabsence, rushed to meet him, eager to know the result of hisjourney, which, seeing him mounted upon a splendid horse andwrapped in a rich mantle, they supposed to be favorable. But hehid the truth from them at first, only saying sadly to Beauty ashe gave her the rose:

"Do you love me, Beauty? Will you marry me?"

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.

"Since you will not, good-night, Beauty," he said. And sheanswered:

"I wish to go back to my palace and see my Beast again," asshe had been told to do.

Then she went to bed, but could hardly sleep for joy. Andwhen at last she did begin to dream of her beloved Prince shewas grieved to see him stretched upon a grassy bank sad andweary, and hardly like himself.

His sons and daughters, who had been very uneasy at his longabsence, rushed to meet him, eager to know the result of hisjourney, which, seeing him mounted upon a splendid horse andwrapped in a rich mantle, they supposed to be favorable. But hehid the truth from them at first, only saying sadly to Beauty ashe gave her the rose: