"Did you come here of your own accord?" asked the Beast. "Will you remain here after your father goes away?"

"I came because I wished to come, and I am willing to remain."

"That pleases me," said the Beast. "As you came of your own accord, you may remain. As for you, old man, get away from here to-morrow, and never let me see you again. Good night, Beauty."

"Good night, Beast," said she, and the Beast left the room.

No sooner had he gone than the merchant began kissing his daughter and begging her again and again to go home and let him remain; but Beauty would not be persuaded, and insisted that her father return in the morning as he had been told. Then they wished each other good night and went to bed. Much to their surprise they fell quickly asleep and did not wake until morning. Beauty dreamed that a sweet lady came to her and said, "For your goodness to your father you shall be rewarded."

In the morning when she told her father the dream he was much comforted, but still his heart was heavy with grief. When he was ready to go, the Beast appeared again and told them that in the next room they would find two traveling trunks which they might fill with rich clothing and gold and silver. All this wealth the father was to take with him for himself and his family. Everything was found as the Beast had told them, and it took them a long time to fill the two trunks; for although they put quantities of gold and silver into one and quantities of rich clothing into the other, yet there seemed to be room for more. When, however, the

trunks were at last full, they were so heavy that neither could be lifted, and the father thought the Beast had been making sport of them. Just at this time a bell sounded in the courtyard, and the father knew it was the signal for his departure; so bidding Beauty good-bye, he hastened down, and was surprised to find waiting for him a beautiful horse ready saddled, and another bearing the two trunks which he had filled. The merchant mounted, and left at such a pace that he was soon lost to sight.

When the merchant had departed, Beauty sat down in the large hall and began to cry, for she then realized fully her terrible fate. After a little, however, as her courage rose, she saw how foolish it was to make her sad case worse by weeping, and resolved to wait as calmly as she could till the Beast was

ready to devour her. The palace was so beautiful that she walked about from room to room looking here and there, much charmed by the beautiful furniture and the rich ornaments that she saw everywhere.

Imagine her surprise when on the sunny side of the castle she came to a great door on which was written, "BEAUTY'S ROOM." All excitement, she hurriedly opened the door, and was dazzled by the grandeur of the chamber which she saw before her. Everywhere were books and musical instruments, pictures, and wardrobes filled with beautiful dresses, all of which delighted the eye and cheered the heart of the frightened girl.

"The Beast means that I shall amuse myself while waiting," said Beauty, as she turned one of the beautiful books. "What is this? 'You are sole mistress over everything. Your commands and wishes shall all be faithfully executed!' There is only one thing that I want, and that is to see my father and brothers and sisters."

Almost as she spoke the room seemed to fade away from about her, and she saw her father sitting in the cottage, surrounded by her brothers and sisters. He was telling them of his experiences, and while he and her brothers wept over Beauty's fate, she was pained to see that her sisters were rejoicing over the riches that had been brought home to them rather than grieving at the loss of a sister. The vision vanished in a moment, but Beauty turned away, feeling in her heart some gratitude toward the Beast for so quickly granting her wish.

When noontime came she found the table laid ready for her, and all the time she was eating sweet

music played, but not a single living creature came in sight. When one is alone, however, it does not take long to eat one's dinner, and soon she was ready again to go about the castle and wonder over the strange things that happened. At supper time the table was placed as at noon, but just as she was seating herself she heard the noise of the Beast approaching, and could not help trembling.

"Beauty," said the Beast, "may I stay and watch you eat?"

"That is as you please," she replied.

"Not at all," answered the Beast. "In this place you alone command. If you do not want me here, you have only to say so and I will leave; but tell me truly do you think me very ugly?"

"I am sorry to pain you," she replied, "but really you are very, very ugly. However I think you are very kind and good."

"Yes, you are right," said the Beast. "I am ugly, and stupid as well, but I try to be kind to everybody. Go on now, and finish your supper."

Beauty, who had by this time ceased to be frightened, ate her supper in silence, turning only now and then to look at the Beast, who sat in the corner watching her. Just as she was finishing, however, he startled her by calling out suddenly, "Beauty, will you marry me?"

For a moment she was terribly frightened, for she felt that her answer would put him in an awful rage; at last, however, she said as sweetly as possible, "No, Beast; I cannot be your wife."

With a sigh that could be heard all over the house, the Beast turned and left the room, saying only as he closed the door, "Good night, Beauty."

In spite of his hideous shape, Beauty could not help feeling that there were worse monsters in the world, and that many a man with a handsomer form did not have so kind a heart as the poor Beast. Her heart was heavy with grief, for she saw how sensitive he was in spite of his coarse and repulsive form.

For three months Beauty lived in this way, spending every day pleasantly in the castle or garden, finding every wish gratified as soon as it was uttered. Many times she called before her the vision of her father's home, and seemed to mingle with her brothers and sisters as they sat about the fireside or attended to their daily work. She might, indeed, have been quite happy if it had not been that every night the Beast asked her to marry him. Every time she refused as gently as she could, and every time he turned away with his sigh and his pleasant, "Good night, Beauty." So much had he done for her that she felt the greatest friendship for him and was willing to do almost anything to serve him, although she could not love him.

One day when she had called up the vision of home she learned that her brothers had gone away to war and her sisters had ungratefully deserted her father, who lay moaning in sickness. That night when the Beast met her in the garden and asked her to marry him she told him very firmly that it could never be, that as she knew her father was sick and alone she felt that she must go to him, and she begged the Beast to give her permission to return home.

"If I cannot see my father again I am sure I shall die with grief," she said.

"I would rather die myself, Beauty," said the Beast, "than cause you a tear. I will send you