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第2章 手有点酸

"A king's ransom would hardly have procured all that my otherdaughters asked," he said; "but I thought that I might at least takeBeauty her rose. I beg you to forgive me, for you see I meant noharm."

But the one she already knew said to her companion:

"The Beast was mocking us," cried the merchant; "he musthave pretended to give us all these things, knowing that I couldnot carry them away."

Beauty answered politely, and quite enjoyed telling him allthat had happened to her. And when at last the time came forhim to go, and he asked, as he had so often asked before:

But no one appeared, and even after another long sleep, fromwhich he awoke completely refreshed, there was no sign of any-body, though a fresh meal of dainty cakes and fruit was preparedupon the little table at his elbow. Being naturally timid, thesilence began to terrify him, and he resolved to search once morethrough all the rooms; but it was of no use. Not even a servantwas to be seen; there was no sign of life in the palace! He beganto wonder what he should do, and to amuse himself by pretendingthat all the treasures he saw were his own, and considering howhe would divide them among his children. Then he went downinto the garden, and though it was winter everywhere else, herethe sun shone, and the birds sang, and the flowers bloomed, andthe air was soft and sweet. The merchant, in ecstacies with all hesaw and heard, said to himself:

But presently she heard the Beast coming, and wonderedtremblingly if he meant to eat her up now.

And in despair he began to tell the Beast all his misfortunes,and the reason of his journey, not forgetting to mention Beauty'srequest.

This evidently pleased the Beast. After looking at her he said,

"Beauty, will you marry me?"