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第4节

11-beauty and beast-第4节

小说: 11-beauty and beast 字数: 每页4000字

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was quite the other side of the palace。



There were more birds in a room farther on; parrots

and cockatoos that could talk; and they greeted Beauty

by name; indeed; she found them so entertaining that she

took one or two back to her room; and they talked to her

while she was at supper; after which the Beast paid her

his usual visit; and asked her the same questions as before;

and then with a gruff 〃good…night〃 he took his departure;

and Beauty went to bed to dream of her mysterious

Prince。 The days passed swiftly in different

amusements; and after a while Beauty found out another

strange thing in the palace; which often pleased her when

she was tired of being alone。 There was one room which

she had not noticed particularly; it was empty; except

that under each of the windows stood a very comfortable

chair; and the first time she had looked out of the window

it had seemed to her that a black curtain prevented her

from seeing anything outside。 But the second time she

went into the room; happening to be tired; she sat down

in one of the chairs; when instantly the curtain was rolled

aside; and a most amusing pantomime was acted before

her; there were dances; and colored lights; and music; and

pretty dresses; and it was all so gay that Beauty was in

ecstacies。 After that she tried the other seven windows

in turn; and there was some new and surprising entertainment

to be seen from each of them; so that Beauty never

could feel lonely any more。 Every evening after supper

the Beast came to see her; and always before saying

good…night asked her in his terrible voice:



〃Beauty; will you marry me?〃



And it seemed to Beauty; now she understood him

better; that when she said; 〃No; Beast;〃 he went away

quite sad。 But her happy dreams of the handsome young

Prince soon made her forget the poor Beast; and the only

thing that at all disturbed her was to be constantly told

to distrust appearances; to let her heart guide her; and

not her eyes; and many other equally perplexing things;

which; consider as she would; she could not understand。



So everything went on for a long time; until at last;

happy as she was; Beauty began to long for the sight of

her father and her brothers and sisters; and one night;

seeing her look very sad; the Beast asked her what was

the matter。 Beauty had quite ceased to be afraid of him。

Now she knew that he was really gentle in spite of his

ferocious looks and his dreadful voice。 So she answered

that she was longing to see her home once more。 Upon

hearing this the Beast seemed sadly distressed; and cried

miserably。



〃Ah! Beauty; have you the heart to desert an unhappy

Beast like this? What more do you want to make you

happy? Is it because you hate me that you want to

escape?〃



〃No; dear Beast;〃 answered Beauty softly; 〃I do not

hate you; and I should be very sorry never to see you any

more; but I long to see my father again。 Only let me go

for two months; and I promise to come back to you and

stay for the rest of my life。〃



The Beast; who had been sighing dolefully while she

spoke; now replied:



〃I cannot refuse you anything you ask; even though it

should cost me my life。 Take the four boxes you will find

in the room next to your own; and fill them with everything

you wish to take with you。 But remember your

promise and come back when the two months are over;

or you may have cause to repent it; for if you do not

come in good time you will find your faithful Beast dead。

You will not need any chariot to bring you back。 Only

say good…by to all your brothers and sisters the night

before you come away; and when you have gone to bed

turn this ring round upon your finger and say firmly: ‘I

wish to go back to my palace and see my Beast again。'

Good…night; Beauty。 Fear nothing; sleep peacefully; and

before long you shall see your father once more。〃



As soon as Beauty was alone she hastened to fill the

boxes with all the rare and precious things she saw about

her; and only when she was tired of heaping things into

them did they seem to be full。



Then she went to bed; but could hardly sleep for joy。

And when at last she did begin to dream of her beloved

Prince she was grieved to see him stretched upon a grassy

bank; sad and weary; and hardly like himself。



〃What is the matter?〃 she cried。



He looked at her reproachfully; and said:



〃How can you ask me; cruel one? Are you not leaving

me to my death perhaps?〃



〃Ah! don't be so sorrowful;〃 cried Beauty; 〃I am only

going to assure my father that I am safe and happy。 I

have promised the Beast faithfully that I will come back;

and he would die of grief if I did not keep my word!〃



〃What would that matter to you?〃 said the Prince

〃Surely you would not care?〃



〃Indeed; I should be ungrateful if I did not care for

such a kind Beast;〃 cried Beauty indignantly。 〃I would

die to save him from pain。 I assure you it is not his fault

that he is so ugly。〃



Just then a strange sound woke hersomeone was

speaking not very far away; and opening her eyes she

found herself in a room she had never seen before; which

was certainly not nearly so splendid as those she was

used to in the Beast's palace。 Where could she be? She

got up and dressed hastily; and then saw that the boxes

she had packed the night before were all in the room。

While she was wondering by what magic the Beast had

transported them and herself to this strange place she

suddenly heard her father's voice; and rushed out and

greeted him joyfully。 Her brothers and sisters were all

astonished at her appearance; as they had never expected

to see her again; and there was no end to the questions

they asked her。 She had also much to hear about what

had happened to them while she was away; and of her

father's journey home。 But when they heard that she had

only come to be with them for a short time; and then

must go back to the Beast's palace for ever; they lamented

loudly。 Then Beauty asked her father what he thought

could be the meaning of her strange dreams; and why the

Prince constantly begged her not to trust to appearances。

After much consideration; he answered: 〃You tell me

yourself that the Beast; frightful as he is; loves you dearly;

and deserves your love and gratitude for his gentleness

and kindness; I think the Prince must mean you to understand

that you ought to reward him by doing as he wishes

you to; in spite of his ugliness。〃



Beauty could not help seeing that this seemed very

probable; still; when she thought of her dear Prince who

was so handsome; she did not feel at all inclined to marry

the Beast。 At any rate; for two months she need not

decide; but could enjoy herself with her sisters。 But

though they were rich now; and lived in town again; and

had plenty of acquaintances; Beauty found that nothing

amused her very much; and she often thought of the

palace; where she was so happy; especially as at home she

never once dreamed of her dear Prince; and she felt quite

sad without him。



Then her sisters seemed to have got quite used to being

without her; and even found her rather in the way; so

she would not have been sorry when the two months

were over but for her father and brothers; who begged her

to stay; and seemed so grieved at the thought of her

departure that she had not the courage to say good…by to

them。 Every day when she got up she meant to say it at

night; and when night came she put it off again; until at

last she had a dismal dream which helped her to make

up her mind。 She thought she was wandering in a lonely

path in the palace gardens; when she heard groans which

seemed to come from some bushes hiding the entrance of

a cave; and running quickly to see what could be the

matter; she found the Beast stretched out upon his side;

apparently dying。 He reproached her faintly with being

the cause of his distress; and at the same moment a

stately lady appeared; and said very gravely:



〃Ah! Beauty; you are only just in time to save his life。

See what happens when people do not keep their promises!

If you had delayed one day more; you would have

found him dead。〃



Beauty was so terrified by this dream that the next

morning she announced her intention of going back at

once; and that very night she said good…by to her father

and all her brothers and sisters; and as soon as she was in

bed she turned her ring round upon her finger; and said

firmly; 〃I wish to go back to my palace and see my Beast

again;〃 as she had been told to do。



Then she fell asleep instantly; and only woke up to hear

the clock saying 〃Beauty; Beauty〃 twelve times in its

musical voice; which told her at once that she was really

in the palace once more。 Everything was just as before;

and her birds were so glad to see her! But Beauty thought

she had never known such a long day; for she was so

anxious to see the Beast ag

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