ed a dreadful scolding from his two elder daughters, who were
angry at not getting their presents.

"And it is Beauty's fault that you have got into this trouble," they
said. "Beauty and her stupid rose. Beauty had better get you out of
the trouble." Beauty said little, but smiled on, with sunshine in her
heart, and trust in her loving nature, and cooked the dinner.

[Illustration: "WHEN SHE CAME TO THE GATE IN THE WALL SHE KNOCKED UPON
IT THREE TIMES"]

Early next morning when the dawn was breaking she left her father's
house, leaving a little note behind her begging him not to be anxious
but that she had gone to the Beast's castle.

When she came to the gate in the wall she knocked upon it three
times and it opened as if by magic, for she could see no one. And she
stepped into the garden of red roses, and in the distance across the
Park she saw the Castle, and she thought she had never seen anything
so beautiful. For it was built of mother-of-pearl, and the red and
yellow gleams of the rising sun shone upon its glistening walls, and
lit them up with a thousand radiant lights.

Beauty marvelled at the loveliness and walked on. And when she arrived
at this beautiful Castle, the huge gates opened as if by magic, and
the doors opened as if by magic, for never a soul did she see, nor
living thing of any sort.

And in the great hall was the breakfast table laid for two. It was
a nice breakfast with steaming hot dishes, and jams, honey, and hot
rolls, and brightly polished silver, and sweet flowers.

Then the Beast appeared suddenly from behind a curtain; oh, he was
an awful Beast, and Beauty's heart beat fast! But he seemed a polite
Beast for all that.

He handed Beauty a chair, and when she had sat down said:

"I bid you welcome; which do you take, tea or coffee?"

"Tea please," answered Beauty.

"Then pour it out," he said, "and I'll take tea too, please. Eggs, do
you like eggs hard or soft?"

"I always cook mine three minutes and a half," replied Beauty.

"Half a minute too much, I think. But you shall have just what you
like."

And so she had; not only at the breakfast table but in everything. She
had only to express a wish and it was immediately gratified. She
had ponies to ride, and dogs and cats, and pet birds, and the most
beautiful dresses ever worn by real princesses.

And if it had not been that she was away from her father she would
really have been happy.

[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie