Page 49 - Beauty and the Beast
P. 49

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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