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第6章 忠肝义胆，举世无双

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.

"Pretty little creatures," she said, "how I wish that your cagewas nearer to my room, that I might often hear you sing!"

"How can you ask me, cruel one? Are you not leaving me tomy death perhaps?"

you will be rewarded for all you have suffered elsewhere. Yourevery wish shall be gratified. Only try to find me out, no matterhow I may be disguised, as I love you dearly, and in making mehappy you will find your own happiness. Be as true-hearted asyou are beautiful, and we shall have nothing left to wish for."

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:

Then turning to Beauty, he said:

Beauty found her dreams so interesting that she was in nohurry to awake, but presently the clock roused her by calling hername softly twelve times, and then she got up and found herdressing-table set out with everything she could possibly want;and when her toilet was finished she found dinner was waiting inthe room next to hers. But dinner does not take very long whenyou are all by yourself, and very soon she sat down cosily in thecorner of a sofa, and began to think about the charming Princeshe had seen in her dream.

"Oh! Beast, how you frightened me!" she cried. "I never knewhow much I loved you until just now, when I feared I was toolate to save your life."

Then she fell asleep instantly, and only woke up to hear theclock saying, "Beauty, Beauty," twelve times in its musical voice,which told her at once that she was really in the palace oncemore. Everything was just as before, and her birds were so gladto see her! but Beauty thought she had never known such a longday, for she was so anxious to see the Beast again that she felt as