11-beauty and beast-第5节

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

anxious　to　see　the　Beast　again　that　she　felt　as　if　suppertime

would　never　come。



But　when　it　did　come　and　no　Beast　appeared　she　was

really　frightened；　so；　after　listening　and　waiting　for　a　long

time；　she　ran　down　into　the　garden　to　search　for　him。　Up

and　down　the　paths　and　avenues　ran　poor　Beauty；　calling

him　in　vain；　for　no　one　answered；　and　not　a　trace　of　him

could　she　find；　until　at　last；　quite　tired；　she　stopped　for　a

minute's　rest；　and　saw　that　she　was　standing　opposite　the

shady　path　she　had　seen　in　her　dream。　She　rushed　down

it；　and；　sure　enough；　there　was　the　cave；　and　in　it　lay　the

Beastasleep；　as　Beauty　thought。　Quite　glad　to　have

found　him；　she　ran　up　and　stroked　his　head；　but；　to　her

horror；　he　did　not　move　or　open　his　eyes。



〃Oh！　he　is　dead；　and　it　is　all　my　fault；〃　said　Beauty；

crying　bitterly。



But　then；　looking　at　him　again；　she　fancied　he　still

breathed；　and；　hastily　fetching　some　water　from　the　near…

est　fountain；　she　sprinkled　it　over　his　face；　and；　to　her

great　delight；　he　began　to　revive。



〃Oh！　Beast；　how　you　frightened　me！〃　she　cried。　〃I

never　knew　how　much　I　loved　you　until　just　now；　when

I　feared　I　was　too　late　to　save　your　life。〃



〃Can　you　really　love　such　an　ugly　creature　as　I　am？〃

said　the　Beast　faintly。　〃Ah！　Beauty；　you　only　came　just

in　time。　I　was　dying　because　I　thought　you　had　forgotten

your　promise。　But　go　back　now　and　rest；　I　shall　see　you

again　by　and　by。〃



Beauty；　who　had　half　expected　that　he　would　be　angry

with　her；　was　reassured　by　his　gentle　voice；　and　went

back　to　the　palace；　where　supper　was　awaiting　her；　and

afterward　the　Beast　came　in　as　usual；　and　talked　about

the　time　she　had　spent　with　her　father；　asking　if　she　had

enjoyed　herself；　and　if　they　had　all　been　very　glad　to　see

her。



Beauty　answered　politely；　and　quite　enjoyed　telling

him　all　that　had　happened　to　her。　And　when　at　last　the

time　came　for　him　to　go；　and　he　asked；　as　he　had　so　often

asked　before；　〃Beauty；　will　you　marry　me？〃



She　answered　softly；　〃Yes；　dear　Beast。〃



As　she　spoke　a　blaze　of　light　sprang　up　before　the

windows　of　the　palace；　fireworks　crackled　and　guns

banged；　and　across　the　avenue　of　orange　trees；　in　letters

all　made　of　fire…flies；　was　written：　〃Long　live　the　Prince

and　his　Bride。〃



Turning　to　ask　the　Beast　what　it　could　all　mean；

Beauty　found　that　he　had　disappeared；　and　in　his　place

stood　her　long…loved　Prince！　At　the　same　moment　the

wheels　of　a　chariot　were　heard　upon　the　terrace；　and　two

ladies　entered　the　room。　One　of　them　Beauty　recognized

as　the　stately　lady　she　had　seen　in　her　dreams；　the　other

was　also　so　grand　and　queenly　that　Beauty　hardly　knew

which　to　greet　first。



But　the　one　she　already　knew　said　to　her　companion：



〃Well；　Queen；　this　is　Beauty；　who　has　had　the　courage

to　rescue　your　son　from　the　terrible　enchantment。　They

love　one　another；　and　only　your　consent　to　their　marriage

is　wanting　to　make　them　perfectly　happy。〃



〃I　consent　with　all　my　heart；〃　cried　the　Queen。　〃How

can　I　ever　thank　you　enough；　charming　girl；　for　having

restored　my　dear　son　to　his　natural　form？〃



And　then　she　tenderly　embraced　Beauty　and　the

Prince；　who　had　meanwhile　been　greeting　the　Fairy　and

receiving　her　congratulations。



〃Now；〃　said　the　Fairy　to　Beauty；　〃I　suppose　you　would

like　me　to　send　for　all　your　brothers　and　sisters　to　dance

at　your　wedding？〃



And　so　she　did；　and　the　marriage　was　celebrated　the

very　next　day　with　the　utmost　splendor；　and　Beauty　and

the　Prince　lived　happily　ever　after。＇1＇





＇1＇　La　Belle　et　la　Bete。　Par　Madame　de　Villeneuve。