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第3章 送你上路

"Well, Queen, this is Beauty, who has had the courage torescue your son from the terrible enchantment. They love oneanother, and only your consent to their marriage is wanting tomake them perfectly happy."

Then turning to Beauty, he said:

Beauty was so terrified by this dream that the next morningshe announced her intention of going back at once, and that verynight she said good-bye to her father and all her brothers andsisters, and as soon as she was in bed she turned her ring roundupon her finger, and said firmly:

"Good-evening, Beast."

"Ah, Beauty! why are you so unkind to me? I fear I am fatedto be unhappy for many a long day still."

"Alas!" thought the merchant, "if my daughter Beauty couldonly know what danger her rose has brought me into!"

"Ah!" cried the merchant, "if I were cruel enough to buy myown life at the expense of one of my children's, what excusecould I invent to bring her here?"

"Ah! Beauty, you are only just in time to save his life. Seewhat happens when people do not keep their promises! If youhad delayed one day more, you would have found him dead."

"Indeed I should be ungrateful if I did not care for such a kindBeast," cried Beauty indignantly. "I would die to save him frompain. I assure you it is not his fault that he is so ugly."