核心提示:"Everythingwillbealright,"saidtheyoungestdaughter,Beauty,."Wecanallhelp.Wedon'tneedanyservantsasthehouseissosmall."ThemerchantwasverygratefultoBeauty.Theold
"Everythingwillbealright,"saidtheyoungestdaughter,Beauty,."Wecanallhelp.Wedon'tneedanyservantsasthehouseissosmall."
ThemerchantwasverygratefultoBeauty.Theoldergirlswereveryupset,andwerenohelpatall.
Innotimeatall,Beautyhadthelittlecottagespickandspan.
Oneday,amessengerarrived.
"Ihavegoodnews,"hesaidtothemerchant."Oneofyourshipshasmadeharbour.Youareneededtooverseemattersintheunloading."
"Oh,goodnewsindeed!"saidthemerchant.Hecalledhisdaughtersaroundhim.theyweredelightedwhentheyheardthenews.
"Doesthismeanthatwecanmovebackhome?"askedtheoldestdaughter.
"Firstthingsfirst,"saidherfather."Ifthereisaprofit,I'llbringyouallbackapresent.Youmusttellmewhatyouwouldlike."
"Oh,abeautifuldress,father,"criedthefirst.
"Anewhat,father,"saidthesecond.
"Whataboutyou,Beauty?"askedthemerchant.
Beautysimplysaid,"Aredroseplease,father."
Themerchantsetoutthatverydayforthetownwiththemessenger.Hecompletedhisbusiness,andfoundthathehadindeedmadeaprofit.Therewasenoughtobuyhisdaughters'presentsandsometoinvest.Thedressandhatweresoonbought,buttherewerenorosestobehadinthetown.
Itwaseveningwhenhesetoutforhome.
"MaybeI'llbeabletofindoneonthewayhome,"hesaidtohimself.
Hewasstillfarfromhomewhenitstartedtogrowdark.Hewasinanunfamiliarpartoftheforest,andknewthathewouldsoonbelostifhedidnotfindsomewhereforthenight.Hesuddenlysawsomelightsandsoonfoundhimselfoutsideavastmansion.
"Ididnotknowthatthiswashere,"saidthemerchant."Imustreallybelost!"
Themerchantwentintothehouseasthefrontdoorwasopen.Helookedaround,buttherewasnobodytobeseen.Hesuddenlysniffedtheair.Hecouldsmelldeliciousfood.Atableinthediningroomwaslaidforone,sohesatandateaheartysupper.
Hesuddenlyrememberedhishorse,andwenttostableitforthenight,butithadalreadybeendone,andthehorsewastuckingintoabagofoats.
'Howstrange,'thoughtthemerchant,returningtothehouse.There,abedroomhadbeenpreparedforhim.Hesleptwell,andinthemorning,foundallhisclotheshadbeencleaned,breakfastwasreadyandhishorsewassaddled.
Atthefrontdoor,heturnedtothankhisunseenhost,butthenhesawthegarden.Iwasfullofroses-rosesofeverydifferentcolour.
"NowIcangetBeauty'spresent,"saidthemerchant,andhepickedaredrose.
Themerchantnearlyjumpedoutofhisskinwhenheheardafuriousroar.
"HaveInotbeenagoodhost?roaredthevoice."Ifedyou,gaveyouabedforthenightandstabledyourhorse,andyourepaymebystealingfromme."
Theownerofthevoicethencameintosight.Themerchantshuddered.Itwastheugliestcreaturehehadeverseen.
"Iamverysorry,"saidthemerchant."Ipickeditformydaughter."
"Ifyouwishtolive,youmustsendthefirstlivingthingyouseewhenyouarrivehome,"saidtheBeast.
"Verywell,"saidthemerchant.Heknewthathisdogusuallygreetedh