The merchant reluctantly accepted this proposal.
He did not think any of his daughters would come;
but it reprieved him for one month, and gave him
an opportunity of saying farewell to them, and of
settling his affairs.

He promised to return at the appointed time, and
then asked permission to set off at once.

But the Beast would not allow this till the next
day. ‘Then,’ said he, ‘you will find a horse ready
for you. Go in, and eat your dinner, and await my
further orders.’

The poor merchant, more dead than alive, went
back into the palace, and into the same room in
which he had rested before. There he found a
most delicious meal prepared for him. He was,
however, in no mood to eat; and if he swallowed a
few mouthfuls, it was only lest he should anger the
Beast by refusing all food from his table. When
he had finished, he heard a trampling in the pass-
ages, and, shortly, the monstrous Beast appeared,
who repeated the terms of the agreement they had
made; and he added—

‘Do not get up to-morrow until after sunrise, and
till you have heard a bell ring. Then you will find
your breakfast prepared for you here, and the
horse you are to ride will be ready in the court-
yard. He will bring you back again when you
come with your daughter a month hence. Fare-
well! take a white rose for Beauty ; and remember
your engagement.’

The merchant was only too glad when the Beast
went away, and though he could not sleep for sad-
ness of heart, yet he lay down on the couch. Next
morning, after a hasty breakfast, he went to gather
the rose for Beauty, mounted the horse, and rode
swiftly away.

The gloomy thoughts that weighed on his mind
were not dispersed when he drew up at his cottage
door. His daughters, who had been uneasy at his

85

BEAUTY
AND THE
BEAST