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第9章 虚空花

The first she entered was lined with mirrors, and Beauty sawherself reflected on every side, and thought she had never seensuch a charming room. Then a bracelet which was hanging froma chandelier caught her eye, and on taking it down she wasgreatly surprised to find that it held a portrait of her unknownadmirer, just as she had seen him in her dream. With great delightshe slipped the bracelet on her arm, and went on into a gallery ofpictures, where she soon found a portrait of the same handsomePrince, as large as life, and so well painted that as she studied ithe seemed to smile kindly at her. Tearing herself away from theportrait at last, she passed through into a room which containedevery musical instrument under the sun, and here she amusedherself for a long while in trying some of them, and singinguntil she was tired. The next room was a library, and she saweverything she had ever wanted to read, as well as everythingshe had read, and it seemed to her that a whole lifetim

in a tone that might have struck terror into the boldest heart,though he did not seem to be angry:

in a tone that might have struck terror into the boldest heart,though he did not seem to be angry:

There were more birds in a room farther on, parrots and cock-atoos that could talk, and they greeted Beauty by name; indeed,she found them so entertaining that she took one or two back toher room, and they talked to her while she was at supper; afterwhich the Beast paid her his usual visit, and asked the samequestions as before, and then with a gruff "good-night" he tookhis departure, and Beauty went to bed to dream of her mysteriousPrince. The days passed swiftly in different amusements, andafter a while Beauty found out another strange thing in the palace,which often pleased her when she was tired of being alone. Therewas one room which she had not noticed particularly; it wasempty, except that under each of the windows stood a verycomfortable chair; and the first time she had looked out of the

"I wish to go back to my palace and see my Beast again," asshe had been told to do.

"Oh! no, Beast," said Beauty hastily.

Beauty found her dreams so interesting that she was in nohurry to awake, but presently the clock roused her by calling hername softly twelve times, and then she got up and found herdressing-table set out with everything she could possibly want;and when her toilet was finished she found dinner was waiting inthe room next to hers. But dinner does not take very long whenyou are all by yourself, and very soon she sat down cosily in thecorner of a sofa, and began to think about the charming Princeshe had seen in her dream.

But, in spite of her anxiety, she could not help admiring allthe wonderful things she saw.

"I cannot refuse you anything you ask, even though it shouldcost me my life. Take the four boxes you will find in the roomnext to your own, and fill them with everything you wish to takewith you. But remember your promise and come back when thetwo months are over, or you may have cause to repent it, for ifyou do not come in good time you will find your faithful Beastdead. You will not need any chariot to bring you back. Onlysay good-bye to all your brothers and sisters the night before youcome away, and when you have gone to bed turn this ring roundupon your finger and say firmly: 'I wish to go back to my palaceand see my Beast again.' Good-night, Beauty. Fear nothing,sleep peacefully, and before long you shall see your father oncemore."