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All that he had left was a little house in a desolate place at leasta hundred leagues from the town in which he had lived, and to thishe was forced to retreat with his children, who were in despair atthe idea of leading such a different life. Indeed, the daughters atfirst hoped that their friends, who had been so numerous whilethey were rich, would insist on their staying in their houses nowthey no longer possessed one. But they soon found that theywere left alone, and that their former friends even attributed theirmisfortunes to their own extravagance, and showed no intentionof offering them any help. So nothing was left for them but totake their departure to the cottage, which stood in the midst of

"You are very ready with excuses and flattery," he cried; "butthat will not save you from the death you deserve."

sprinkled it over his face, and to her great delight he began to

Then he asked if she thought she could be happy in his palace;and Beauty answered that everything was so beautiful that shewould be very hard to please if she could not be happy. And afterabout an hour's talk Beauty began to think that the Beast was notnearly so terrible as she had supposed at first. Then he got up toleave her, and said in his gruff voice:

And then her dreams changed, but the charming Prince figuredin them all; and when morning came her first thought was to lookat the portrait and see if it was really like him, and she found thatit certainly was.

and stay here, to let you go free. If neither of them is willing,you must come alone, after bidding them good-bye for ever, forthen you will belong to me. And do not imagine that you canhide from me, for if you fail to keep your word I will come andfetch you!" added the Beast grimly.

bitterly.

 Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a mer-chant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that hewas enormously rich. As he had, however, six sons and sixdaughters, he found that his money was not too much to let themall have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.

The merchant was only too glad when the Beast went away,and though he could not sleep for sadness, he lay down until