ing to take you home; but remember, you must Pee

never venture to seek my palace again.’

Then, turning to Beauty, he said : ‘Take your father
into the next room, and help him to choose
presents for your sisters. There are two port-
manteaus there. Fill them with whatever you
like to send home. All are yours, and at your
disposal.’

Then the Beast made a clumsy bow, put his paw
to his heart, and said: ‘Good-bye, Beauty; good-
bye, merchantman.’

Beauty was very sorrowful to have to part with
her father, and much dismayed at the thought of
being left alone in the great palace with no one
but the Beast. However, she promptly obeyed his
orders. The room they entered was full of the
costliest objects, the most splendid dresses, and
the richest jewelry. After making a selection,
she put them in the portmanteau which she
intended to contain the presents for her sisters.
Then she found a trunk full of gold coins, and
with them she stuffed the second portmanteau,
which was for her father.

But Beauty and her father much doubted whether
the horse could carry the load. However, on
reaching the courtyard, there they saw two horses
beside that on which the merchant had ridden.
They moved the portmanteaus down, and strapped
them on the pack-horses’ backs. Then the mer-
chant bade his daughter a tender farewell with
many tears, and rode away.

Then Beauty wept bitterly, and wandered sadly
back to the room in which she had eaten. She
soon found herself so sleepy that she threw her-
self on the couch and closed her eyes, and was at
once in the world of dreams.

Now, in her dreams, she saw something very
strange. She thought that there stood before her
a Prince, handsomer than any man she had ever

89

D THE
AREAST