Page:The sleeping beauty and other fairy tales from the old French (1910).djvu/133

Beauty and the Beast of his breath—Beauty clung to her father in terror, and had almost fainted against the arm which he flung around her. But when the Beast stood before her in the doorway, after a little shudder she walked towards him with a firm step, and, halting at a little distance, saluted him respectfully. This behaviour evidently pleased the Beast. After letting his eyes rest on her face for a while, he said, in a tone that might well have struck terror into the boldest heart (and yet it did not seem to be angry):—

'Good evening, my good sir! Good evening, Beauty!'

The merchant was too far terrified to find his voice; but Beauty controlled hers and answered sweetly:—

'Good evening, Beast!'

'Have you come here of your own free will?' asked the Beast. And are you willing to let your father return and leave you here?'

Beauty answered that she was quite willing.

'Indeed? And yet what do you suppose will happen to you after he has gone?'

'Sir,' said Beauty, 'that is as it pleases you, and you only can tell.' 93