Page:History of Beauty and the Beast.pdf/5

 and Beauty rose at four in the morning, and made haste to have the house clean, and breakfast ready for the family. In the beginning she found it very difficult, for she had not been used to work as a servant; but, in less than two months, she grew stronger and healthier than ever. After she had done her work, she read, played on the harpsichord, or else sang whilst she spun. On the contrary, her two sisters did not know how to spend their time; they got up at ten, and did nothing but saunter about the whole day, lamenting the loss of their fine clothes and acquaintance. “Do but see our youngest sister,” said one to the other, “what a poor, stupid, mean-spirited creature she is, to be contented with such an unhappy situation.” The good merchant was of quite a different opinion: he knew very well that Beauty outshone her sisters in her person as well as her mind, and admired her humility, industry, and patience: for her sisters not only left her all the work of the house to do, but insulted her every moment.

The family had lived about a year in this retirement, when the merchant received a letter, with an account that a vessel, on board of which he had effects, was safely arrived. This news