Page 49 - Beauty and the Beast
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adventure which had befallen him. On hearing
the tale the two elder girls were in a great
commotion, and began to upbraid Beauty for not
weeping as they did.
'See to what her smugness has brought this
young chit,' they said; 'surely she might strive to
find some way out of this trouble, as we do! But
oh, dear me, no; her ladyship is so determined to
be different that she can speak of her father's
death without a tear!'
'It would be quite useless to weep,' said Beauty.
'Why should I lament my father's death? He is not
going to die. Since the monster agrees to accept a
daughter instead, I intend to offer myself to
appease his fury. It will be a happiness to do so,
for in dying I shall have the joy of saving my
father, and of proving to him my devotion.'
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