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And it seemed to Beauty, now she understood himbetter, that when she said,
no, beast, he went away quite sad. But her happydreams of the handsome young prince soon made her
forget the poor beast, and the only thing that atall disturbed her was to be constantly told to
distrust appearances, to let her heart guide her,and not her eyes, and many other equallyperplexing
things, which, consider as she would, she couldnot understand. So everything went on for a long
time, until at last, happy as she was, Beautybegan to long for the sight of her father and her
brothers and sisters, and one night, seeing herlook very sad, the beast asked her what was the
matter. Beauty had quite ceased to be afraid ofhim. Now she knew that he was really gentle in
spite of his ferocious looks and his dreadfulvoice. So she answered that she was longing
to see her home once more. Upon hearing this thebeast seemed sadly distressed, and criedmiserably.
Ah! Beauty, have you the heart to desert anunhappy beast like this? What more do you want
to make you happy? Is it because you hate me thatyou want to escape? No, dear beast, answered
Beauty softly, I do not hate you, and I should bevery sorry never to see you anymore, but I long
to see my father again. Only let me go for twomonths, and I promise to come back to you and
stay for the rest of my life. The beast, who hadbeen sighing dolefully while she spoke, nowreplied.
I cannot refuse you anything you ask, even thoughit should cost me my life.
Take the four boxes you will find in the room nextto your own, and fill them with everything
you wish to take with you. But remember yourpromise and come back when the two months are
over, or you may have cause to repent it, for ifyou do not come in good time you will find
your faithful beast dead. You will not need anychariot to bring you back. Only say good-bye to
all your brothers and sisters the night before youcome away, and when you have gone to bed
turn this ring round upon your finger and sayfirmly, I wish to go back to my palace and see
my beast again. Good night, Beauty. Fear nothing,sleep peacefully, and before long you shall see
your father once more." As soon as Beauty wasalone she hastened to fill the boxes with all
the rare and precious things she saw about her,and only when she was tired of heaping things into
them did they seem to be full. Then she went tobed, but could hardly sleep for joy. And when at
last she did begin to dream of her beloved princeshe was grieved to see him stretched upon a grassy
bank, sad and weary, and hardly like himself. Whatis the matter? she cried. He looked at her
reproachfully, and said. How can you ask me, cruelone? Are you not leaving me to my death
perhaps? Ah! don't be so sorrowful, cried Beauty,I am only going to assure my father that I am safe
and happy. I have promised the beast faithfullythat I will come back, and he would die of grief
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if I did not keep my word. What would that matterto you? said the prince surely you would not care?
Indeed, I should be ungrateful if I did not carefor such a kind beast, cried Beauty indignantly.
I would die to save him from pain. I assure you itis not his fault that he is so ugly.
Just then a strange sound woke her, someone wasspeaking not very far away, and opening her eyes
she found herself in a room she had never seenbefore, which was certainly not nearly so splendid
as those she was used to in the beast's palace.Where could she be? She got up and dressedhastily,
and then saw that the boxes she had packed thenight before were all in the room. While she
was wondering by what magic the beast hadtransported them and herself to this strange
place she suddenly heard her father's voice, andrushed 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 no end to the questions they askedher. She held so much to hear about what had
happened to them while she was away, and of herfather's journey home. But when they heard that
she had only come to be with them for a shorttime, and then must go back to the beast's palace
forever, they lamented loudly. Then Beauty askedher father what he thought could be the meaning
of her strange dreams, and why the princeconstantly begged her not to trust to appearances.
After much consideration, he answered, You tell meyourself that the beast,
frightful as he is, loves you dearly, and deservesyour love and gratitude for his gentleness and
kindness, I think the prince must mean you tounderstand that you ought to reward him by doing
as he wishes you to, in spite of his ugliness.Beauty could not help seeing that this seemed very
probable. Still, when she thought of her dearprince who was so handsome, she did not feel
at all inclined to marry the beast. At any rate,for two months she need not decide, but could
enjoy herself with her sisters. But though theywere rich now, and lived in town again, and had
plenty of acquaintances, Beauty found that nothingamused her very much, and she often thought of the
palace, where she was so happy, especially as athome she never once dreamed of her dear prince,
and she felt quite sad without him. Then hersisters seemed to have got quite used to being
without her, and even found her rather in the wayso she would not have been sorry when the two
months were over but for her father and brothers,who begged her to stay, and seemed so grieved at
the thought of her departure that she had not thecourage to say good-bye to them. Every day when
she got up she meant to say it at night, and whennight came she put it off again, until at last she
had a dismal dream which helped her to make up hermind. She thought she was wandering in a lonely
path in the palace gardens, when she heard groanswhich seemed to come from some bushes hiding the
entrance of a cave, and running quickly to seewhat could be the matter, she found the beast
stretched out upon his side, apparently dying. Hereproached her faintly with being the cause of
his distress, and at the same moment a statelylady appeared, and said very gravely. Ah! Beauty,
you are only just in time to save his life. Seewhat happens when people do not keep theirpromises.
If you had delayed one day more, you would havefound him dead. Beauty was so terrified by this
dream that the next morning she announced herintention of going back at once, and that very
night she said good-bye to her father and all herbrothers and sisters, and as soon as she was in
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bed she turned her ring round upon her finger, andsaid firmly, I wish to go back to my palace and
see my beast again, as she had been told to do.Then she fell asleep instantly, and only woke up
to hear the clock saying Beauty, Beauty twelvetimes in its musical voice, which told her at
once that she was really in the palace once more.Everything was just as before, and her birds were
so glad to see her. But Beauty thought she hadnever known such a long day, for she was soanxious to
see the beast again that she felt as if suppertimewould never come. But when it did come and no
beast appeared she was really frightened, so,after listening and waiting for a long time, she
ran down into the garden to search for him. Up anddown the paths and avenues ran poor Beauty,
calling him in vain, for no one answered, and nota trace of him could she find, until at last,
quite tired, she stopped for a minute's rest, andsaw that she was standing opposite the shady
path she had seen in her dream. She rushed downit, and, sure enough, there was the cave,
and in it lay the beast, asleep, as Beautythought. Quite glad to have found him,
she ran up and stroked his head, but, throughhorror, he did not move or open his eyes.
Oh! He is dead, and it is all my fault, saidBeauty, crying bitterly. But then, looking at him
again, she fancied he still breathed, and, hastilyfetching some water from the nearest fountain,
she sprinkled it over his face, and, to her greatdelight, he began to revive.
Oh! Beast, how you frighten me, she cried. I neverknew how much I loved you until just now,
when I feared I was too late to save your life.
Can you really love such an ugly creature as I am?said the beast faintly. Ah! Beauty,
you only came just in time. I was dying because Ithought you had forgotten your promise.
But go back now and rest, I shall see you again byand by.
Beauty, who had half expected that he would beangry with her, was reassured by his gentle voice,
and went back to the palace, where supper wasawaiting her, and afterward the beast came in
as usual, and talked about the time she had spentwith her father, asking if she had enjoyed
herself, and if they had all been very glad to seeher. Beauty answered politely, and quite
enjoyed telling him all that had happened to her.And when at last the time came for him to go,
and he asked, as he had so often asked before,Beauty, will you marry me? She answered softly,
Yes, dear Beast. As she spoke a blaze of lightsprang up before the windows of the palace,
fireworks crackled and guns banged, and across theavenue of orange trees,
in letters all made of fireflies, was written,Long live the prince and his bride.
Turning to ask the beast what it could all mean,Beauty found that he had disappeared,
and in his place stood her long-loved prince. Atthe same moment the wheels of a chariot were
heard upon the terrace, and two ladies entered theroom. One of them Beauty recognized as the
stately lady she had seen in her dreams, the otherwas also so grand and queenly that Beauty
hardly knew which to greet first. But the one shealready knew said to her companion.
Well, Queen, this is Beauty, who has had thecourage to rescue your son from the terrible
enchantment. They love one another, and only yourconsent to their marriage is wanting to
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make them perfectly happy. I consent with all myheart, cried the Queen. How could I ever thank you
enough, charming girl, for having restored my dearson to his natural form? And then she tenderly
embraced Beauty and the prince, who had meanwhilebeen greeting the fairy and receiving her
congratulations. Now, said the fairy to Beauty, Isuppose you would like me to send for all your
brothers and sisters to dance at your wedding? Andso she did, and the marriage was celebrated
the very next day with the utmost splendor, andBeauty and the prince lived happily ever after.
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