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So the merchant set out and reached the town as quickly aspossible, but only to find that his former companions, believinghim to be dead, had divided between them the goods which theship had brought; and after six months of trouble and expensehe found himself as poor as when he started, having been ableto recover only just enough to pay the cost of his journey. Tomake matters worse, he was obliged to leave the town in themost terrible weather, so that by the time he was within a fewleagues of his home he was almost exhausted with cold andfatigue. Though he knew it would take some hours to get throughthe forest, he was so anxious to be at his journey's end that heresolved to go on; but night overtook him, and the deep snowand bitter frost made it impossible for his horse to carry him anyfurther. Not a house was to be seen; the only shelter he could getwas the hollow trunk of a great tree, and there he crouched all thenight, which seemed to him the longest he had ever known. Insp

"Ah! don't be so sorrowful," cried Beauty; "I am only going toassure my father that I am safe and happy. I have promised theBeast faithfully that I will come back, and he would die of griefif I did not keep my word!"

standing opposite the shady path she had seen in her dream. She

So saying she opened a door, and found to her delight that itled into her own room, though she had thought it was quite theother side of the palace.

promise to come back to you and stay for the rest of my life."

"What can I do, Prince, to make you happy?" said Beauty.

"You are very ready with excuses and flattery," he cried; "butthat will not save you from the death you deserve."

But then, looking at him again, she fancied he still breathed,

But, in spite of her anxiety, she could not help admiring allthe wonderful things she saw.