After supper there was a great roar as before, and the Beast entered. Beauty trembled, and the Beast turned to her and said:—
“Did you come of your own self?”
“Yes,” said Beauty, still trembling.
“Then I thank you. But you, sir,” and he turned to the father, “get you gone to-morrow, and never let me see your face again. Goodnight, Beauty.”
“Good-night, Beast,” she replied, and Beast walked off. The merchant begged and begged his daughter to leave him, and to go back to her home. But she was firm, and when the morning came, she made him leave her.
“Surely,” he thought, “Beast will not hurt Beauty.”
Beauty wept, but she was a brave girl, and soon she dried her eyes, and began to walk through the palace. She came to a door, and over it was written Beauty’s Room. She opened the door, and found herself in a fine chamber, with books, music and a harp, and many beautiful things.
“It cannot be that I have only a day to live,” she said, “for why should all this be done for me?” She opened a book and saw written in letters of gold: Your wishes and commands shall be obeyed. You are here the queen over everything.
“Alas!” she thought, “I wish most of all I could see my father and know what he is doing.” Just then her eyes fell on a large looking-glass, and in it she saw her father just reaching home. Her sisters came out to meet him. They tried to look sad, but it was plain that they were not sorry to see him come home alone.
The sight in the glass was only for a moment, then it faded, and Beauty turned away and in her mind thanked Beast for what he had done.