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第4章 杀鸡焉用宰牛刀

"I consent with all my heart," cried the Queen. "How can Iever thank you enough, charming girl, for having restored mydear son to his natural form?"

And it seemed to Beauty, now she understood him better,that when she said, "No, Beast," he went away quite sad. Buther happy dreams of the handsome young Prince soon made herforget the poor Beast, and the only thing that at all disturbed herwas to be constantly told to distrust appearances, to let her heartguide her, and not her eyes, and many other equally perplexingthings, which, consider as she would, she could not understand.

Just then a strange sound woke her--someone was speakingnot very far away; and opening her eyes she found herself in aroom she had never seen before, which was certainly not nearlyso splendid as those she was used to in the Beast's palace. Wherecould she be? She got up and dressed hastily, and then sawthat the boxes she had packed the night before were all in theroom. While she was wondering by what magic the Beast hadtransported them and herself to this strange place she suddenlyheard 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 noend to the questions they asked her. She had also much to hearabout what had happened to them while she was away, and ofher father's journey home. But when they heard that she had onlycome to be with them for a short time, and then must go back tothe Beast's palace for ever, they lamented loudly. Then Beautyasked her father what he

ordered with trees, and lamenting her sad fate, when ayoung prince, handsomer than anyone she had ever seen, andwith a voice that went straight to her heart, came and said to her,"Ah, Beauty! you are not so unfortunate as you suppose. Here

many. By this time it was growing dusk, and wax candles in dia-mond and ruby candlesticks were beginning to light themselvesin every room.

So saying she opened a door, and found to her delight that itled into her own room, though she had thought it was quite theother side of the palace.

good-bye to everything she loved, and when the fatal day cameshe encouraged and cheered her father as they mounted togetherthe horse which had brought him back. It seemed to fly ratherthan gallop, but so smoothly that Beauty was not frightened;indeed, she would have enjoyed the journey if she had not fearedwhat might happen to her at the end of it. Her father still triedto persuade her to go back, but in vain. While they were talkingthe night fell, and then, to their great surprise, wonderful coloredlights began to shine in all directions, and splendid fireworksblazed out before them; all the forest was illuminated by them,and even felt pleasantly warm, though it had been bitterly coldbefore. This lasted until they reached the avenue of orange trees,where were statues holding flaming torches, and when they gotnearer to the palace they saw that it was illuminated from theroof to the ground, and music sounded softly from the courtyard.

"Alas!" thought the merchant, "if my daughter Beauty couldonly know what danger her rose has brought me into!"

"Pretty little creatures," she said, "how I wish that your cagewas nearer to my room, that I might often hear you sing!"