yes she found herself in a room she had never seen
before, which was certainly not nearly so splendid as those she was used
to in the Beast's palace. Where could she be? She got up and dressed
hastily, and then saw that the boxes she had packed the night before were
all in the room. While she was wondering by what magic the Beast had
transported them and herself to this strange place she suddenly heard 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 no end to the questions they asked her.
She had also much to hear about what had happened to them while she was
away, and of her father's journey home. But when they heard that she had
only come to be with them for a short time, and then must go back to the
Beast's palace for ever, they lamented loudly. Then Beauty asked her
father what he thought could be the meaning of her strange dreams, and why
the Prince constantly begged her not to trust to appearances. After much
consideration he answered: "You tell me yourself that the Beast, frightful
as he is, loves you dearly, and deserves your love and gratitude for his
gentleness and kindness; I think the Prince must mean you to understand
that you ought to reward him by doing as he wishes you to, in spite of his
ugliness."

Beauty could not help seeing that this seemed very probable; still, when
she thought of her dear Prince who was so handsome, she did not feel at
all inclined to marry the Beast. At any rate, for two months she need not
decide, but could enjoy herself with her sisters. But though they were
rich now, and lived in a town again, and had plenty of acquaintances,
Beauty found that nothing amused her very much; and she often thought of
the palace, where she was so happy, especially as at home she never once
dreamed of her dear Prince, and she felt quite sad without him.

Then her sisters seemed to have got quite used to being without her, and
even found her rather in the way, so she would not have been sorry when
the two months were over but for her father and brothers, who begged her
to stay, and seemed so grieved at the thought of her departure that she
had not the courage to say good-bye to them. Every day when she got up she
meant to say it at night, and when night came she put it off again, until
at last she had a dismal dream which helped her to make up her mind. She
thought