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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2bd9a1b --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #51275 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51275) diff --git a/old/51275-8.txt b/old/51275-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index b19e7c8..0000000 --- a/old/51275-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3291 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sleeping Beauty and other fairy tales, by -Arthur Quiller-Couch and Charles Perrault - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Sleeping Beauty and other fairy tales - -Author: Arthur Quiller-Couch - Charles Perrault - -Illustrator: Edmund Dulac - -Release Date: February 21, 2016 [EBook #51275] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SLEEPING BEAUTY, OTHER FAIRY TALES *** - - - - -Produced by Madeleine Fournier. Images from The Internet Archive. - - - - -[Illustration: And there, on a bed the curtains of which were drawn -wide, he beheld the loveliest vision he had ever seen.] - - -The Sleeping Beauty and other fairy tales - -FROM THE OLD FRENCH - -retold by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch - - -illustrated by Edmund Dulac - - -NEW YORK - -HODDER and STOUGHTON - - - -PREFACE - - -Once upon a time I found myself halting between two projects, both -magnificent. For the first, indeed--which was to discover, digest and -edit all the fairy tales in the world--I was equipped neither with -learning, nor with command of languages, nor with leisure, nor with -length of years. It is a task for many men, clubbing their lifetimes -together. But the second would have cost me quite a respectable amount -of toil; for it was to translate and annotate the whole collection of -stories in the _Cabinet des Fées._ - -Now the _Cabinet des Fées_, in the copy on my shelves, extends to -forty-one volumes, printed, as their title-pages tell, at Geneva -between the years 1785 and 1789, and published in Paris by M. Cuchet, -Rue et Hôtel Serpente. The dates may set us moralising. While the Rue -Serpente unfolded, as though - - _Tranquilla per alta,_ - -its playful voluminous coils, the throne of France with the Ancien -Régime rocked closer and closer to catastrophe. In 1789 (July), just as -M. Cuchet (good man and leisurable to the end) wound up his series with -a last volume of the _Suite des Mille et Un Nuits_, they toppled over -with the fall of the Bastille. - -Even so in England--we may remind ourselves--in 1653, when the gods -made Oliver Cromwell Protector, Izaak Walton chose to publish a -book about little fishes. But the reminder is not quite apposite: -for angling, the contemplative man's recreation, was no favourite -or characteristic or symbolical pursuit of the Order which Cromwell -overthrew (and, besides, he did not overthrow it); whereas, M. Cuchet's -forty-one volumes most pertinently as well as amply illustrated some -real qualities, and those the most amiable of the Ancien Régime. When -we think of the French upper classes from the days of Louis XIV. to -the Revolution, we associate them with a certain elegance, a taste -fastidious and polite, if artificial, in the arts of living and the -furniture of life; and in this we do them justice. But, if I mistake -not, we seldom credit them with the quality which more than any other -struck the contemporary foreign observer who visited France with a -candid mind--I mean their good temper. We allow the Bastille or the -guillotine to cast their shadows backward over this period, or we see -it distorted in the glare of Burke's rhetoric or of Carlyle's lurid -and fuliginous history. But if we go to an eyewitness, Arthur Young, -who simply reported what he saw, having no rhetorical axe to grind -or guillotine to sharpen, we get a totally different impression. The -last of Young's _Travels in France_ (1787-1789) actually coincided -with the close of M. Cuchet's pleasant enterprise in publishing; and -I do not think it fanciful to suppose that, had this very practical -Englishman found time to read at large in the _Cabinet des Fées_, he -would have discovered therein much to corroborate the evidence steadily -and unconsciously borne by his own journals--that the urbanity of life -among the French upper classes was genuine, reflecting a real and (for -a whole society) a remarkable sunniness of disposition. Unconscious -of their doom, the little victims played. But they did play; and they -fell victims, not to their own passions, but to a form of government -economically rotten. - -Of all the volumes in the _Cabinet_, possibly the most famous are the -first and second, containing the fairy tales of Charles Perrault and -Madame d'Aulnoy, and vols. 7-11, containing M. Galland's version (so -much better than any translation) of _The Arabian Nights_. I hope -that one of those days Mr. Dulac will lay the public under debt by -illustrating all these, and the stories of Antony Hamilton to boot. -Meanwhile, here are three of the most famous tales from Perrault's -wallet, and one, the evergreen _Beauty and the Beast_, by an almost -forgotten authoress, Madame de Villeneuve. - -The ghost of Charles Perrault, could it walk to-day--_perruque_ and -all--might well sigh over the vanity of human pretensions. For Monsieur -Perrault was a person of importance in his lifetime (1628-1703), and -a big-wig in every sense of the term. Colbert made him Secretary of -the Academy of Inscriptions, and anon Controller of Public Works--in -which capacity he suggested to his architect-brother, Claude Perrault, -the facade of the Louvre with its renowned colonnade. He flattered -his monarch with a poem _Le Siècle de Louis le Grand_. 'Je ne sais,' -observes a circle, 'si ce roi, malgré son amour excessif pour la -flatterie, fut content: les bornes étaient outre-passées.' The poem, as -a poem, had little success; but by positing that the Age of Louis was -the greatest in history, and suggesting that the moderns were as good -as the ancients or better, it started a famous controversy. Boileau, -Racine, La Bruyère, honoured him by taking the other side, and forced -him to develop his paradox in a book of dialogues, _Parallèles des -Anciens et des Modernes_. But his best answer was his urbane remark -(for he kept his temper admirably) that these gentlemen did ill to -dispute the superiority of the moderns while their own works gave proof -of it. He wrote other poems, other tractates (including one on the -'Illustrious Men of his Age'), besides occasional tracts on matters -of high politics: and his memory is kept alive by one small packet -of fairy-tales--stories which he heard the nurse telling his little -boy, and set down upon paper for a recreation! That is the way with -literary fame. To take an English example: it is odds that Southey, -poet-laureate and politician of great self-importance in his day, will -come finally to be remembered by his baby-story of _The Three Bears_. -It will certainly outlive _Thalaba the Destroyer_, and possibly even -the _Life of Nelson_. - -As for Gabrielle Susanne, wife of M. de Gallon, Seigneur de Villeneuve -and lieutenant-colonel of infantry (whom she outlived), she wrote a -number of romantic stories--_Le Phénix Conjugal, Le Juge Parvenu, Le -Beau-Frère Supposé, La Jardinière de Vincennes, Le Prince Azerolles_, -etc. I am not--perhaps few are--acquainted with these works. Madame de -Villeneuve died in 1755 and lives only by grace of her _La Belle et La -Bête_; and that again lives in despite of its literary defects. It has -style; but the style inheres neither in its language, which is loose, -nor in its construction. The story, as she wrote it, tails off woefully -and drags to an end in mere foolishness. - -Since Perrault, who is usually accepted as the fountainhead of -these charming French fairy-stories, belongs almost entirely to the -seventeenth century, it may be asked why Mr. Dulac has chosen to depict -his Princes and Princess in costumes of the eighteenth? Well, for my -part, I hold that he has obeyed a just instinct in choosing the period -when the literature he illustrates was at the acme of its vogue. But -his designs, in every stroke of which the style of that period is so -unerringly felt, provide his best apology. - -My own share in this volume is, perhaps, less easily defended. I began -by translating Perrault's tales, very nearly word for word; because -to me his style has always seemed nearly perfect for its purpose; and -the essence of 'style' in writing is propriety to its purpose. On the -other hand the late M. Ferdinand Brunetière has said that Perrault's -is 'devoid of charm,' and on this subject M. Brunetière's opinion must -needs out-value mine ten times over. Certainly the translations, when -finished, did not satisfy me, and so I turned back to the beginning and -have rewritten the stories in my own way, which (as you may say with -the Irish butler) 'may not be the best claret, but 'tis the best ye've -got.' - -I have made bold, too, to omit Perrault's conclusion of _La Belle au -Bois Dormant_. To my amazement the editor of the _Cabinet des Fées_ -selects this lame sequel--it is no better than a sequel--of a lovely -tale, and assigns to it the credit of having established 'la véritable -fortune de ce genre.' Frankly, I cannot believe him. Further, I have -condensed Madame de Villeneuve's narrative and obliterated its feeble -ending. In taking each of these liberties I have the warrant of -tradition, which in the treatment of fairy-tales speaks with a voice -more authoritative than the original author's, for it speaks with the -united voices of many thousands of children, his audience and best -critics. As the children have decreed that in Southey's tale of _The -Three Bears_ the heroine shall be a little girl, and not, as Southey -invented her, a good-for-nothing old woman, so they have decreed the -story of _The Sleeping Beauty_ to end with the Prince's kiss, and that -of _Beauty and the Beast_ with the Beast's transformation. And as -_Beauty and the Beast_ is really but a variant of the immortal fable of -_Cupid and Psyche_, I might--had I room to spare--attempt to prove to -you that the children's taste is here, as usually, right and classical. - -ARTHUR QUILLER-COUCH - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - -THE SLEEPING BEAUTY - -_And there, on a bed the curtains of which were drawn wide, he beheld -the loveliest vision he had ever seen_ (20) - -_Her head nodded with spite and old age together, as she bent over the -cradle_ (5) - -_They grew until nothing but the tops of the castle towers could be -seen_ (15) - - -BLUE BEARD - -_They overran the house without loss of time_ (34) - -_The unhappy_ Fatima _cried up to her_, 'Anne, sister Anne, do you see -any one coming? (42) - -_Then_ Blue Beard _roared out so terribly that he made the whole house -tremble_ (44) - - -CINDERELLA - -_She used to creep away to the chimney-corner and seat herself among -the cinders_ (49) - -_Whereupon she instantly desired her partner to lead her to the_ King -_and_ Queen (61) - -_The Prime Minister was kept very busy during the next few weeks_ (70) - - -BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - -_He had been fasting for more than twenty four hours, and lost no time -in falling-to_ (80) - -_Soon they caught sight of the castle in the distance_ (91) - -_'Ah! what a fright you have given me!' she murmured_ (126) - - - -THE SLEEPING BEAUTY - - -Once upon a time there lived a King and a Queen, who lacked but one -thing on earth to make them entirely happy. The _King_ was young, -handsome, and wealthy; the _Queen_ had a nature as good and gentle as -her face was beautiful; and they adored one another, having married for -love--which among kings and queens is not always the rule. Moreover, -they reigned over a kingdom at peace, and their people were devoted to -them. What more, then, could they possibly want? - -Well, they wanted one thing very badly, and the lack of it grieved them -more than words can tell. They had no child. Vows, pilgrimages, all -ways were tried; yet for a long while nothing came of it all, and the -poor _Queen_ especially was in despair. - -At last, however, to her own and her husband's inexpressible joy, -she gave birth to a daughter. As soon as the palace guns announced -this event, the whole nation went wild with delight. Flags waved -everywhere, bells were set pealing until the steeples rocked, crowds -tossed up their hats and cheered, while the soldiers presented arms, -and even strangers meeting in the street fell upon each other's neck, -exclaiming: 'Our _Queen_ has a daughter! Yes, yes--Our _Queen_ has a -daughter! Long live the little _Princess_!' - -A name had now to be found for the royal babe; and the _King_ and -_Queen_, after talking over some scores of names, at length decided to -call her _Aurora_, which means _The Dawn_. The Dawn itself (thought -they) was never more beautiful than this darling of theirs. The next -business, of course, was to hold a christening. They agreed that it -must be a magnificent one; and as a first step they invited all the -Fairies they could find in the land to be godmothers to the _Princess -Aurora_, that each one of them might bring her a gift, as was the [Pg -3]custom with Fairies in those days, and so she might have all the -perfections imaginable. After making long inquiries--for I should tell -you that all this happened not so many hundred years ago, when Fairies -were already growing somewhat scarce--they found seven. But this again -pleased them, because seven is a lucky number. - -After the ceremonies of the christening, while the trumpeters sounded -their fanfares and the guns boomed out again from the great tower, all -the company returned to the Royal Palace to find a great feast arrayed. -Seats of honour had been set for the seven fairy godmothers, and before -each was laid a dish of honour, with a dish-cover of solid gold, and -beside the dish a spoon, a knife, and a fork, all of pure gold and all -set with diamonds and rubies. But just as they were seating themselves -at table, to the dismay of every one there appeared in the doorway an -old crone, dressed in black and leaning on a crutched stick. Her chin -and her hooked nose almost met together, like a pair of nut-crackers, -for she had very few teeth remaining; but between them she growled to -the guests in a terrible voice: - -'I am the Fairy _Uglyane_! Pray where are your King's manners, that I -have not been invited?' - -She had in fact been overlooked; and this was not surprising, because -she lived at the far end of the country, in a lonely tower set around -by the forest. For fifty years she had never come out of this tower, -and every one believed her to be dead or enchanted. That, you must -know, is the commonest way the Fairies have of ending: they lock -themselves up in a tower or within a hollow oak, and are never seen -again. - -The _King_, though she chose to accuse his manners, was in fact the -politest of men. He hurried to express his regrets, led her to table -with his own hand, and ordered a dish to be set for her; but with the -best will in the world he could not give her a dish-cover such as the -others had, because seven only had been made for the seven invited -Fairies. The old crone received his excuses very ungraciously, while -accepting a seat. It was plain that she had taken deep offence. One of -the younger Fairies, _Hippolyta_ by name, who sat by, overheard her -mumbling threats between her teeth; and fearing she might bestow some -unlucky gift upon the little _Princess_, went as soon as she rose from -table and hid herself close by the cradle, behind the tapestry, that -she might have the last word and undo, so far as she could, what evil -the Fairy _Uglyane_ might have in her mind. - -She had scarcely concealed herself before the other Fairies began to -advance, one by one, to bestow their gifts on the _Princess_. The -youngest promised her that she should be the most beautiful creature -in the world; the next, that she should have the wit of an angel; -the third, a marvellous grace in all her ways; the fourth, that she -should dance to perfection; the fifth, that she should sing like -a nightingale; the sixth, that she should play exquisitely on all -instruments of music. - -Now came the turn of the old Fairy _Uglyane_. Her head nodded with -spite and old age together, as she bent over the cradle and shook -her crutched staff above the head of the pretty babe, who slept on -sweetly, too young and too innocent as yet to dream of any such thing -as mischief in this world. - -'This is my gift to you, _Princess Aurora_,' announced the hag, still -in her creaking voice that shook as spitefully as her body. 'I promise -that one day you shall pierce your hand with a spindle, and on that day -you shall surely die!' - -At these terrible words the poor _Queen_ fell back fainting into her -husband's arms. A trembling seized the whole Court; the ladies were in -tears, and the younger lords and knights were calling out to seize and -burn the wicked witch, when the young Fairy stepped forth from behind -the tapestry, and passing by _Uglyane_, who stood scornful in the midst -of this outcry, she thus addressed their Majesties: - -'Take comfort, O _King_ and _Queen_: your daughter shall not die thus. -It is true, I have not the power wholly to undo what this elder sister -of mine has done. The _Princess_ must indeed pierce her hand with a -spindle; but, instead of dying, she shall only fall into a deep slumber -that shall last for many, many years, at the end of which a King's -son shall come and awake her. Whenever this misfortune happens to -your little _Aurora_, do not doubt that I, the Fairy _Hippolyta_, her -godmother, shall get news of it and come at once to render what help I -may.' - -[Illustration: _Her head nodded with spite and old age together, as she -bent over the cradle.] - -The _King_, while declaring himself infinitely obliged to the -good Fairy _Hippolyta_, could not help feeling that hers was but -cold comfort at the best. He gave orders to close the christening -festivities at once, although the Fairy _Uglyane_, their spoil-joy, -had already taken her departure; passing unharmed through the crowd -of folk, every one of whom wished her ill, and riding away--it was -generally agreed-upon a broomstick. - -To satisfy the _King's_ faithful subjects, however,--who were unaware -of any misadventure--the palace fireworks were duly let off, with a -grand set-piece wishing _Long Life to the Princess Aurora!_ in all the -colours of the rainbow. But His Majesty, after bowing from the balcony -amid the banging of rockets and hissing of Catherine wheels, retired to -a private room with his Chamberlain, and there, still amid the noise -of explosions and cheering, drew up the first harsh proclamation of -his reign. It forbade every one, on pain of death, to use a spindle in -spinning or even to have a spindle in his house. Heralds took copies -of this proclamation and marched through the land reading it, to the -sound of trumpets, from every market-place: and it gravely puzzled and -distressed all who listened, for their women folk prided themselves -on their linen. Its fineness was a byword throughout the neighbouring -kingdoms, and they knew themselves to be famous for it. 'But what sort -of linen,' said they, 'would His Majesty have us spin without spindles?' - -They had a great affection, however (as we have seen), for their -monarch; and for fifteen or sixteen years all the spinning-wheels -were silent throughout the land. The little _Princess Aurora_ grew up -without ever having seen one. But one day--the _King_ and _Queen_ being -absent at one of their country houses--she gave her governess the slip, -and running at will through the palace and upstairs from one chamber -to another, she came at length to a turret with a winding staircase, -from the top of which a strange whirring sound attracted her and seemed -to invite her to climb. As she mounted after the sound, on a sudden it -ceased; but still she followed the stairs and came, at the very top, -to an open door through which she looked in upon a small garret where -sat an honest old woman alone, winding her distaff. The good soul had -never, in sixteen years, heard of the _King's_ prohibition against -spindles; and this is just the sort of thing that happens in palaces. - -'What are you doing, goody?' asked the _Princess_. - -'I am spinning, pretty one,' answered the old woman, who did not know -who she was. - -'Spinning? What is that?' - -'I wonder sometimes,' said the old woman, 'what the world is coming -to, in these days!' And that, of course, was natural enough, and might -occur to anybody after living so long as she had lived in a garret on -the top of a tower. 'Spinning,' she said wisely, 'is spinning, or was; -and, gentle or simple, no one is fit to keep house until she has learnt -to spin.' - -'But how pretty it is!' said the _Princess_. 'How do you do it? Give it -to me and let me see if I can do so well.' - -She had no sooner grasped the spindle--she was over-eager perhaps, or -just a little bit clumsy, or maybe the fairy decree had so ordained -it--than it pierced her hand and she dropped down in a swoon. - -The old trot in a flurry ran to the head of the stairs and called for -help. There was no bell rope, and, her voice being weak with age and -her turret in the remotest corner of the palace, it was long before -any one heard her in the servants' hall. The servants, too--in the -absence of the _King_ and _Queen_--were playing cards, and could not -be interrupted by anybody until their game was finished. Then they -sat down and discussed whose business it was to attend on a call from -that particular turret; and this again proved to be a nice point, -since nobody could remember having been summoned thither, and all were -against setting up a precedent (as they called it). In the end they -decided to send up the lowest of the junior page-boys. But he had a -weakness which he somehow forgot to mention--that of fainting at the -sight of blood. So when he reached the garret and fainted, the old -woman had to begin screaming over again. - -This time they sent up a scullery maid; who, being good-natured and -unused to the ways of the palace, made the best haste she could to -the garret, whence presently she returned with the terrible news. The -servants, who had gone back to their game, now dropped their cards and -came running. All the household, in fact, came pouring up the turret -stairs; the palace physicians themselves crowding in such numbers that -the poor _Princess Aurora_ would have been hard put to it for fresh -air could fresh air have restored her. They dashed water on her face, -unlaced her, slapped her hands, tickled the soles of her feet, burned -feathers under her nose, rubbed her temples with Hungary-water. They -held consultations over her, by twos and threes, and again in Grand -Committee. But nothing would bring her to. - -Meanwhile, a messenger had ridden off posthaste with the tidings, and -while the doctors were still consulting and shaking their heads the -_King_ himself came galloping home to the palace. In the midst of his -grief he bethought him of what the Fairies had foretold; and being -persuaded that, since they had said it, this was fated to happen, he -blamed no one but gave orders to carry the _Princess_ to the finest -apartment in the palace, and there lay her on a bed embroidered with -gold and silver. - -At sight of her, she was so lovely, you might well have supposed that -some bright being of the skies had floated down to earth and there -dropped asleep after her long journey. For her swoon had not taken away -the warm tints of her complexion: her cheeks were like carnations, her -lips like coral: and though her eyes were closed and the long lashes -would not lift, her soft breathing told that she was not dead. The -_King_ commanded them all to leave her and let her sleep in peace until -the hour of her awakening should arrive. - -Now when the accident befell our _Princess_ the good Fairy _Hippolyta_, -who had saved her life, happened to be in the Kingdom of Mataquin, -twelve thousand leagues away; but news of it was brought to her in an -incredibly short space of time by a little dwarf who owned a pair of -seven-league boots. (These were boots in which you could walk seven -leagues at a single stride.) She set off at once to the help of her -beloved goddaughter, and behold in an hour this good Fairy arrived at -the palace, in a fiery chariot drawn by dragons. - -Our _King_ met her and handed her down from the chariot. She approved -of all that he had done; but, greatly foreseeing as she was, she -bethought her that, as all mortals perish within a hundred years or so, -when the time came for the _Princess_ to awake she would be distressed -at finding herself orphaned and alone in this old castle. - -So this is what she did. She touched with her wand everything and -everybody in the palace: the _King_, the _Queen_; the ministers and -privy councillors; the archbishop (who was the Grand Almoner), the -bishops and the minor clergy; the maids-of-honour, ladies of the -bedchamber, governesses, gentlemen-in-waiting, equerries, heralds, -physicians, officers, masters of the household, cooks, scullions, -lackeys, guards, Switzers, pages, footmen. She touched the _Princess's_ -tutors and the Court professors in the midst of their deep studies. She -touched likewise all the horses in the stables, with the grooms; the -huge mastiffs in the yard; even _Tiny_, the _Princess's_ little pet -dog, and _Fluff_, her black-and-white cat, that lay coiled on a cushion -by her bedside. - -The instant the Fairy _Hippolyta_ touched them they all fell asleep, -not to awake until the same moment as their mistress, that all might be -ready to wait on her when she needed them. The very spits at the fire -went to sleep, loaded as they were with partridges and pheasants; and -the fire went to sleep too. All this was done in a moment: the Fairies -were never long about their business in those days. - -But it so happened that one of the _King's_ councillors, the Minister -of Marine (his office dated from a previous reign when the kingdom -had hoped to conquer and acquire a seaboard) had overslept himself -that morning and came late to the palace without any knowledge of what -had befallen. He felt no great fear that his unpunctuality would be -remarked, the _King_ (as he supposed) being absent in the country; -nevertheless he took the precaution of letting himself in by a small -postern door, and so missed being observed by the Fairy and touched by -her wand. Entering his office, and perceiving that his under-secretary -(usually so brisk) and all his clerks rested their heads on their -desks in attitudes of sleep, he drew the conclusion that something had -happened, for he was an excellent judge of natural slumber. The farther -he penetrated into the palace, the stronger his suspicions became. -He withdrew on tiptoe. Though by nature and habit a lazy man, he was -capable of sudden decision, and returning to his home he caused notices -to be posted up, forbidding any one to approach the castle, the inmates -of which were suffering from an Eastern but temporary affliction known -as the Sleeping Sickness. - -These notices were unnecessary, for within a few hours there grew up, -all around the park, such a number of trees of all sizes, and such a -tangle of briars and undergrowth, that neither beast nor man could find -a passage. They grew until nothing but the tops of the castle towers -could be seen, and these only from a good way off. There was no mistake -about it: the Fairy had done her work well, and the _Princess_ might -sleep with no fear of visits from the inquisitive. - -One day, many, many years afterwards, the incomparable young _Prince -Florimond_ happened to ride a-hunting on that side of the country which -lay next to the tangled forest, and asked: 'What were those towers he -saw pushing up above the midst of a great thick wood? ' - -They all answered him as they heard tell. Some said it was an old -castle haunted by ghosts. - -Others, that all the wizards and witches of the country met there to -keep Sabbath. - -The most general opinion was that an Ogre dwelt there, and that he -carried off thither all the children he could catch, to eat them at his -ease. No one could follow him, for he alone knew how to find a passage -through the briars and brambles. The _Prince_ could not tell which to -believe of all these informants, for all gave their versions with equal -confidence, as commonly happens with those who talk on matters of which -they can know nothing for certain. He was turning from one to another -in perplexity, when a peasant spoke up and said:-- - -'Your Highness, long ago I heard my father tell that there was in -yonder castle a Princess, the most beautiful that ever man saw; that -she must lie asleep there for many, many years; and that one day she -will be awakened by a King's son, for whom she was destined.' - -At these words Prince _Florimond_ felt himself a-fire. He believed, -without weighing it, that he could accomplish this fine adventure; and, -spurred on by love and ambition, he resolved to explore then and there -and discover the truth for himself. - -[Illustration: They grew until nothing but the tops of the castle -towers could be seen.] - -Leaping down from his horse he started to run towards the wood, and had -almost reached the edge of it before the attendant courtiers guessed -his design. They called to him to come back, but he ran on, and was -about to fling himself boldly into the undergrowth, when as by magic -all the great trees, the shrubs, the creepers, the ivies, briars and -brambles, unlaced themselves of their own accord and drew aside to let -him pass. He found himself within a long glade or avenue, at the end of -which glimmered the walls of an old castle; and towards this he strode. -It surprised him somewhat that none of his attendants were following -him; the reason being that as soon as he had passed through it, the -undergrowth drew close as ever again. He heard their voices, fainter -and fainter behind him, beyond the barrier, calling, beseeching him -to desist. But he held on his way without one backward look. He was a -Prince, and young, and therefore valiant. - -He came to the castle, and pushing aside the ivies that hung like a -curtain over the gateway, entered a wide outer court and stood still -for a moment, holding his breath, while his eyes travelled over a -scene that might well have frozen them with terror. The court was -silent, dreadfully silent; yet it was by no means empty. On all hands -lay straight, stiff bodies of men and beasts, seemingly all dead. -Nevertheless, as he continued to gaze, his courage returned; for the -pimpled noses and ruddy faces of the Switzers told him that they were -no worse than asleep; and their cups, which yet held a few heeltaps of -wine, proved that they had fallen asleep over a drinking-bout. - -He stepped by them and passed across a second great court paved with -marble; he mounted a broad flight of marble steps leading to the main -doorway; he entered a guardroom, just within the doorway, where the -guards stood in rank with shouldered muskets, every man of them asleep -and snoring his best. He made his way through a number of rooms filled -with ladies and gentlemen, some standing, others sitting, but all -asleep. He drew aside a heavy purple curtain, and once more held his -breath; for he was looking into the great Hall of State where, at a -long table, sat and slumbered the _King_ with his Council. The Lord -Chancellor slept in the act of dipping pen into inkpot; the Archbishop -in the act of taking snuff; and between the spectacles on the -Archbishop's nose and the spectacles on the Lord Chancellor's a spider -had spun a beautiful web. - -_Prince Florimond_ tiptoed very carefully past these august sleepers -and, leaving the hall by another door, came to the foot of the grand -staircase. Up this, too, he went; wandered along a corridor to his -right, and, stopping by hazard at one of the many doors, opened it and -looked into a bath-room lined with mirrors and having in its midst, -sunk in the floor, a huge round basin of whitest porcelain wherein a -spring of water bubbled deliciously. Three steps led down to the bath, -and at the head of them stood a couch, with towels, and court-suit laid -ready, exquisitely embroidered and complete to the daintiest of lace -ruffles and the most delicate of body linen. - -Then the _Prince_ bethought him that he had ridden far before ever -coming to the wood; and the mirrors told him that he was also somewhat -travel-stained from his passage through it. So, having by this time -learnt to accept any new wonder without question, he undressed himself -and took a bath, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Nor was he altogether -astonished, when he tried on the clothes, to find that they fitted him -perfectly. Even the rosetted shoes of satin might have been made to his -measure. - -Having arrayed himself thus hardily, he resumed his quest along the -corridor. The very next door he tried opened on a chamber all panelled -with white and gold; and there, on a bed the curtains of which were -drawn wide, he beheld the loveliest vision he had ever seen: a -Princess, seemingly about seventeen or eighteen years old, and of a -beauty so brilliant that he could not have believed this world held the -like. - -But she lay still, so still!... _Prince Florimond_ drew near, trembling -and wondering, and sank on his knees beside her. Still she lay, -scarcely seeming to breathe, and he bent and touched with his lips the -little hand that rested, light as a rose-leaf, on the coverlet.... - -With that, as the long spell of her enchantment came to an end, the -_Princess_ awaked; and looking at him with eyes more tender than a -first sight of him might seem to excuse:-- - -'Is it you, my _Prince_?' she said. 'You have been a long while coming!' - -The _Prince_, charmed by these words, and still more by the manner in -which they were spoken, knew not how to find words for the bliss in his -heart. He assured her that he loved her better than his own self. Their -speech after this was not very coherent; they gazed at one another for -longer stretches than they talked; but if eloquence lacked, there was -plenty of love. He, to be sure, showed the more embarrassment; and no -need to wonder at this--she had had time to think over what to say to -him; for I hold it not unlikely (though the story does not say anything -of this) that the good Fairy _Hippolyta_ had taken care to amuse her, -during her long sleep, with some pleasurable dreams. In short, the -_Princess Aurora_ and the _Prince Florimond_ conversed for four hours, -and still without saying the half they had to say. - -Meanwhile all the palace had awaked with the _Princess_. In the Council -Chamber the _King_ opened his eyes and requested the Lord Chancellor -to read that last sentence of his over again a little more distinctly. -The Lord Chancellor, dipping his quill into the dry inkpot, asked the -Archbishop in a whisper how many t's there were in 'regrettable.' -The Archbishop, taking a pinch of snuff that had long ago turned to -dust, answered with a terrific sneeze, which again was drowned by the -striking of all the clocks in the palace, as they started frantically -to make up for lost time. Dogs barked, doors banged; the _Princess's_ -parrot screamed in his cage and was answered by the peacocks squawking -from the terrace; amid which hubbub the Minister for Agriculture, -forgetting his manners, made a trumpet of his hands and bawled across -the table, begging His Majesty to adjourn for dinner. In short, every -one's first thought was of his own business; and, as they were not all -in love, they were ready to die with hunger. - -Even the _Queen_, who had dropped asleep while discussing with her -maids-of-honour the shade of mourning which most properly expressed -regret for royal personages in a trance, lost her patience at length, -and sent one of her attendants with word that she, for her part, was -keen-set for something to eat, and that in her young days it had been -customary for young ladies released from enchantment to accept the -congratulations of their parents without loss of time. The _Prince -Florimond_, by this message recalled to his devoirs, helped the -_Princess_ to rise. She was completely dressed, and very magnificently -too. - -Taking his beloved _Princess Aurora_ by the hand, he led her to her -parents, who embraced her passionately and--their first transports -over--turned to, welcome him as a son, being charmed (quite apart from -their gratitude) by the modest gallantry of his address. They passed -into a great dining-room lined with mirrors, where they supped and -were served by the royal attendants. Violins and hautboys discoursed -music that was ancient indeed, but excellent, and the meal was scarcely -concluded before the company enjoyed a very pleasant surprise. - -_Prince Florimond_, having no eyes but for his love, might be excused -if he forgot that his attendants must, long before now, have carried -home their report, and that his parents would be in deep distress, -wondering what had become of him. But the _King_, the _Princess's_ -father, had a truly royal habit of remembering details, especially -when it concerned setting folks at their ease. Before dinner he had -dispatched a messenger to carry word to _Prince Florimond's_ father, -that his son was safe, and to acquaint him briefly with what had -befallen. The messenger, riding through the undergrowth--which now -obligingly parted before him as it had, a while ago, to admit the -_Prince_--and arriving at the outskirts of the wood, found there a -search-party vainly endeavouring to break through the barrier, with -the _Prince's_ aged father standing by and exhorting them in person, -to whom he delivered his message. Trembling with relief--for he truly -supposed his son to be lost beyond recall--the old man entreated the -messenger to turn back and escort him. So he arrived, and was ushered -into the hall. - -The situation, to be sure, was delicate. But when these two kings, both -so well meaning, had met and exchanged courtesies, and the one had -raised the other by the hand to a place on the daïs beside him, already -and without speech they had almost accorded. - -'I am an old man,' said the _Prince's_ father; 'I have reigned long -enough for my satisfaction, and now care for little in life but to see -my son happy.' - -'I think I can promise you that,' said the _Princess's_ father, -smiling, with a glance at the two lovers. - -'I am old enough, at any rate, to have done with ambitions,' said the -one. - -'And I,' said the other, 'have dreamed long enough, at any rate, to -despise them. What matters ruling to either of us two, while we see -your son and my daughter reigning together?' - -So it was agreed, then and there; and after supper, without loss of -time, the Archbishop married the _Prince Florimond_ and the _Princess -Aurora_ in the chapel of the Castle. The two Kings and the _Princess's_ -mother saw them to their chamber, and the first maid-of-honour drew -the curtain. They slept little--the _Princess_ had no occasion; but -the _Prince_ next morning led his bride back to the city, where they -were acclaimed by the populace and lived happy ever after, reigning in -prosperity and honour. - - - MORAL - - _Ye Maids, to await some while a lover fond,_ - _Rich titled, debonair as Florimond,_ - _Is reason; and who learns on fate to attend_ - _Goes seldom unrewarded in the end--_ - _'What! No one kiss us for a hundred years!'_ - _There, la-la-la! I understood, my dears._ - - ANOTHER - - _Further, the story would suggest a doubt_ - _That marriage_ may _be happiest when deferr'd--_ - _'Deferr'd?' you cry--'Deferr'd,' I see you pout,_ - _--We'll skip this morale and attempt a third._ - - ANOTHER - - _Thirdly, our able then appears to prove_ - _Disparity of years no bar to love._ - _Crabb'd Age and Youth--But that's an ancient quarrel,_ - _And I'll not interfere. There 's no third moral._ - - - -BLUE BEARD - - -In the East, in a city not far from Baghdad, there lived a man who had -many possessions and might have been envied by all who knew him had -these possessions been less by one. He had fine houses in town and -country, retinues of servants, gold and silver plate in abundance, -coffers heaped with jewels, costly carpets, embroidered furniture, -cabinets full of curiosities, gilded coaches, teams of Arab horses of -the purest breed. But unluckily he had also a blue beard, which made -him so frightfully ugly that every woman wanted to scream and run away -at sight of him. - -Among his neighbours was a lady of quality, who had two sons and two -daughters. Upon these two damsels _Blue Beard_ cast his affections, -without knowing precisely which he preferred; and asked the lady to -bestow the hand of one of her daughters upon him, adding, not too -tactfully, that he would leave the choice to her. Neither _Anne_ nor -_Fatima_ was eager for the honour. They sent their suitor to and fro, -and back again from one to the other: they really could not make up -their minds to accept a husband with a blue beard. It increased their -repugnance (for they were somewhat romantic young ladies) to learn that -he had already married several wives; and, moreover, nobody could tell -what had become of them, which again was not reassuring. - -_Blue Beard_, to make their better acquaintance, invited them, with -their mother and brothers and a dozen or so of their youthful friends, -to divert themselves at one of his country houses, where they spent -a whole fortnight, and (as they confessed) in the most agreeable -pastimes. Each day brought some fresh entertainment: they hunted, -they hawked, they practised archery, they angled for gold-fish, -or were rowed to the sound of music on the waters of their host's -private canal, they picnicked in the ruined castles, of which he owned -quite a number. Each day concluded, too, with banqueting, dancing, -card-parties, theatricals; or would have concluded, had these young -people felt any disposition to go to bed. They preferred, however, to -sit up until morning, joking and teasing one another. _Blue Beard_, -who had arrived at middle age, would have been grateful for a little -more sleep than they allowed him, but showed himself highly complaisant -and smiled at their pranks even when--their awe of him having worn -off--they balanced a basin of water above his chamber door, to fall -on his head and douch him, or sewed up his night-garments, or stuffed -his bolster with the prickly cactus (an Eastern vegetable, of which -he possessed whole avenues); nay, even when, for the same mischievous -purpose, they despoiled his garden of an aloe which was due to blossom -in a few days' time, after having remained flowerless for a century, he -betrayed no chagrin but merely raised the wages of his head-gardener, -heart-broken over the loss of a plant so economical in giving pleasure. -In short all went so smoothly that the younger daughter began to find -their host's beard not so blue after all. - -She confided this to her mother. 'Dear mother,' she said, 'it is -doubtless nothing more than my fancy, but his beard _does_ seem to me -to have altered in colour during the last ten days--a very little, of -course.' - -'Then you, too, have observed it!' the lady interrupted delightedly. -'My dearest child, you cannot imagine how your words relieve me! For -a week past I have accused my eyesight of failing me, and myself of -growing old.' - -'Then you really think there _is_ a change?' asked _Fatima_, at once -doubtful and hoping. - -'Indeed, yes. Ask yourself if it be reasonable to suppose that our eyes -are playing a trick on both of us? Not,' her mother went on, 'that -I, for my part, have any prejudice against blue. On the contrary, -it is a beautiful colour, and considered lucky. The poets--you will -have remarked--when they would figure to us the highest attainable -happiness, select a blue flower or a blue bird for its emblem. Heaven -itself is blue; and, at the least, a blue beard must be allowed to -confer distinction.' - -'A greyish-blue,' hazarded _Fatima_. - -'A bluish-grey, rather,' her mother corrected her: 'that is, if I must -define the shade as it appears to me.' - -'And,' still hesitated _Fatima_, 'since it has begun to change, there -seems no reason why it should not continue to do so.' - -'My darling'--her mother kissed her--'that is precisely the point! Its -colour is changing, you say. But for what reason? Obviously because he -is in love; and what love has begun, love can carry to a conclusion. -Nay, but put it on the ground of pity alone. Could a feeling heart set -itself any task more angelic than to rescue so worthy a gentleman from -so hideous an affliction--if affliction it be, which I am far from -allowing?' - -_Fatima_ reflected on her mother's advice, but thought it prudent to -consult her sister _Anne_ and her step-brothers before coming to a -decision which, once taken, must be irrevocable. - -They listened to her very good-naturedly; though, to tell the truth, -all three were somewhat jaded, having sat up all night at the -card-tables, playing at ombre, quadrille, lasquenet; and Heaven knows -what other games. - -'My dear _Fatima_,' said her sister _Anne_ with a little yawn, 'I -congratulate you with all my heart on having made a discovery which, -beyond a doubt and but for your better diligence, I should have had to -make for myself before long.' - -As for her step-brothers, they were in the best of humours at having -won a considerable sum of money from their host by superior play; and -they answered her, quoting a proverb, that 'at nights all cats are -grey, and all beards too,' and seemed to consider this very much to the -point. - -_Fatima_ was greatly relieved by these assurances. On the evening -before the company dispersed _Blue Beard_ again sought a private -interview and pressed his suit. She accepted him without further ado, -and as soon as they returned to town the marriage was concluded. - - -They had been married little more than a month when _Blue Beard_ came -to his wife one morning, and told her that letters of importance had -arrived for him: he must take a journey into the country and be away -six weeks at least on a matter of business. He desired her to divert -herself in his absence by sending for her friends, to carry them off to -the country if she pleased, and to make good cheer wherever she was. - -'Here,' said he, 'are the keys of the two great store-chambers where -I keep my spare furniture; these open the strong-rooms of my gold and -silver plate which is only used on state occasions; these unlock my -chests of money, both gold and silver; these, my jewel coffers; and -this is the master-key to all my apartments. But this little one, here, -is the key of the closet at the end of the great gallery on the ground -floor. Open all the others; go where you will. But into that little -closet I forbid you to go; and I forbid it so strongly that if you -_should_ disobey me and open it, there is nothing you may not expect -from my displeasure.' - -_Fatima_ promised to obey all his orders exactly; whereupon he embraced -her, got into his coach, and was driven off. - -Her good friends and neighbours scarcely waited for the young bride's -invitation, so impatient were they to view all the riches of her -grand house, having never dared to come while her husband was at -home, because of his terrifying blue beard. They overran the house -without loss of time, hunting their curiosity from room to room, along -the corridors and in and out of closets and wardrobes, cabinets and -presses; opening cupboards, ferreting in drawers, and still exclaiming -over their contents as each new discovery proved more wonderful than -the last. They roamed through the bedrooms and spent a long while in -the two great store-chambers, where they could not sufficiently admire -the number and beauty of the tapestries, beds, sofas, consoles, stands, -tables, but particularly the looking-glasses, in which you could see -yourself from head to foot, with their frames of glass and silver and -silver-gilt, the finest and costliest ever seen. They ceased not to -extol and to envy their friend's good fortune. - -'If my husband could only give me such a house as this,' said one to -another, 'for aught I cared he might have a beard of all the colours of -the rainbow!' - -[Illustration: They overran the house without loss of time.] - -_Fatima_, meanwhile, was not in the least amused by the sight of all -these riches, being consumed by a curiosity even more ardent than -that of her friends. Indeed, she could scarcely contain herself and -listen to their chatter, so impatient she felt to go and open the -closet downstairs. If only _Blue Beard_ had not forbidden this one -little thing! Or if, having reasons of his own to keep it secret, he -had been content to take the key away with him, saying nothing about -it! At least, if he wished to prove whether or not poor _Fatima_ could -rise above the common frailty of her sex--and he was, as we shall see, -a somewhat exacting husband--he should have warned her. As it was, -her curiosity grew and possessed her until at length, without even -considering how uncivil it was to leave her guests, she escaped from -them and ran down a little back staircase, in such haste that twice or -thrice she tripped over her gown and came near breaking her neck. - -When she reached the door of the closet she hesitated for a moment or -so, thinking upon her husband's command, and considering what ill might -befall her if she disobeyed it. While he uttered it his look had been -extremely stern, and a blue beard--for after a month of married life -she could no longer disguise from herself that it was still blue, or -at any rate changing colour less rapidly than she or her mother had -promised themselves--might betoken a harsh temper. On the other hand, -and though she continued to find it repulsive, he had hitherto proved -himself a kind, even an indulgent husband, and for the life of her she -could not imagine there was anything unpardonable in opening so small a -chamber. The temptation, in short, was too strong for her to overcome. -She took the little key and, trembling, opened the door. - -At first, shading her eyes and peering in, she could see nothing, -because the window-shutters were closed. But after some moments she -began to perceive that the light, falling through the shutters, took -a reddish tinge as it touched the floor. So red it was--or rather, -red-purple--that for a moment or two she supposed the closet to be -paved with porphyry of that colour. Still, as she stared, and her -eyes by degrees grew accustomed to the gloom, she saw--and moment by -moment the truth crept upon her and froze her--that the floor was all -covered with clotted blood. In the dull shine of it something horrible -was reflected.... With an effort she lifted her eyes to the wall -facing her, and there, in a row, on seven iron clamps, hung the bodies -of seven dead women with their feet dangling a few inches above the -horrible pool in which their blood had mingled.... Little doubt but -these were the wives whom _Blue Beard_ had married and whose throats he -had cut, one after another! - -Poor _Fatima_ thought to die of fear, and the key, which she had pulled -from the lock, fell from her hand. When she had regained her senses a -little, she picked it up and locked the door again; but her hand shook -so that this was no easy feat, and she tottered upstairs to recover -herself in her own room. But she found it filled with her officious -friends, who, being occupied with envy of her riches and having no -reason to guess that, in a husband's absence, anything could afflict so -fortunate a wife, either honestly ignored her pallor or hoped (while -promising to come again) that they had not overtired her by their visit. - -They promised, too, to repeat their call very soon, at the same time -inquiring how long her husband's journey might be expected to last. It -was plain that they feared him, one and all. Half an hour ago she might -have wondered at this. - -They were gone at last. _Fatima_, drawing the key from her pocket, now -to her horror observed a dull smear upon it, and remembered that it had -fallen at her feet on the edge of the pool of blood in the closet. She -wiped it; she rubbed it on the sleeve of her robe; but the blood would -not come off. In a sudden terror she ran to her dressing-room, poured -out water, and began to soap the key. But in vain did she wash it, and -even scrape it with a knife and scrub it with sand and pumice-stone. -The blood still remained, for the key was a magic key, and there was no -means of making it quite clean; as fast as the blood was scoured off -one side it came again on the other. - -She was still scouring and polishing, when a horn sounded not very far -away. In her flurry she paid little heed to this, or to the rumble of -wheels she heard approaching. Frightened though she was, she supposed -that she had still almost six weeks in which to restore by some means -the key to its brightness. But when the wheels rolled up to the -porchway and came to a stop, and when the horn, sounding again, blew -her husband's flourish, then indeed the poor lady's knees knocked -together and almost sank beneath her. Hiding the key in the bosom of -her bodice, she tottered forth to the head of the stairs, to behold -_Blue Beard_ himself standing beneath the lamp in the hall below. - -He caught sight of her as she leaned over, clinging to the balustrade; -and called up cheerfully that he had received letters on the road with -news that his journey was after all unnecessary--the business he went -about had been settled, and to his advantage. Still shaking in every -limb, _Fatima_ crept downstairs to give him greeting. She ordered -supper to be prepared in haste; and while he ate, forced herself to ask -a hundred questions concerning his adventures. In short she did all she -could to give him proof that she was delighted at his speedy return. - -Next morning, having summoned her to attend him on the terrace, he -asked her to render back the keys; which she gave him, but with such a -trembling hand that he easily guessed what had happened. - -'How is this? 'said he. 'Why is not the key of my closet among the -rest?' - -'I must have left it upstairs on my table,' said _Fatima_. - -'Fetch it to me at once,' said _Blue Beard_. 'At once, and without -fail.' - -She went, and after a while returned, protesting that she could not -find it. - -'Go back and seek again,' commanded _Blue Beard_, dangerously calm. - -After going backwards and forwards several times, she could pretend no -longer, but brought him the key. _Blue Beard_ examined it closely, and -demanded-- - -'How came this blood upon the key?' - -'I do not know,' answered poor _Fatima_, paler than death. - -'You do not know!' cried _Blue Beard_ in a terrible voice. 'But I know -well enough. You have chosen to enter that closet. Mighty well, madam; -since that poor room of mine so appeals to your fancy, your whim shall -not be denied. You _shall_ go in, and take your place among the ladies -you saw there!' - -_Fatima_ flung herself at her husband's feet, and wept and begged his -pardon with every sign of truly repenting her disobedience. She would -have melted a rock, so beautiful and sorrowful she was; but _Blue -Beard_ had a heart harder than any rock. - -[Illustration: The unhappy FATIMA cried up to her:-- - -'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see any one coming?'] - -'You must die, madam,' said he, 'and that presently.' - -'Since I must die,' she answered, looking up at him with eyes all -bathed in tears, 'grant me a little time to say my prayers.' - -'I grant you,' replied _Blue Beard_, 'ten minutes, and not a second -more.' - -As she went from him, and through the house towards her own apartment, -at the foot of the great staircase she met with her sister _Anne_, who -(unaware of _Blue Beard's_ return) had just arrived to pay her a visit. - -'Ah, dear sister!' cried _Fatima_, embracing her. 'But tell me, oh, and -for Heaven's sake, quickly! where are my brothers _Selim_ and _Hassan_, -who promised to come with you?' - -'They are at home,' said _Anne_. 'They were detained at parade, and -I have come ahead of them. I could wait for them no longer in my -impatience to see you; but just as I was starting they arrived back -from the parade-ground, and sent word that they will follow as soon as -they have groomed their horses, and spend a happy day with you.' - -'Alas!' sobbed _Fatima_, 'they will never see me alive in this world!' - -'But what has happened? 'asked her sister, amazed. - -'He--_Blue Beard_--has returned.... Yes, and in a few minutes he has -promised to kill me. But ah! ask me no questions--there is so little -time left. Dear sister, if you love me, run upstairs and still up to -the top of the tower, look if my brothers are not coming, and if you -see them, give them a signal to make haste!' - -Her sister _Anne_ left her and ran up, up, to the roof of the tower; -and from time to time as the minutes sped, the unhappy _Fatima_ cried -up to her:-- - -'_Anne, Sister Anne, do you see any one coming?_' - -And _Sister Anne_ answered her:-- - -'_I see nothing but the noon dust a-blowing, and the green grass -a-growing._' - -By and by _Blue Beard_, who had pulled out his huge sabre, and was -trying its edge on the short turf of the terrace, shouted to her:-- - -'Wife, your time is up. Come down, and at once!' - -Then, as she made no answer, he shouted again, and as loudly as he -could bawl: 'Come down quickly, or I will come up to you!' - -'A moment--give me a moment longer!' she answered, and called softly to -her sister: '_Anne, Sister Anne, do you see any one coming?_' - -And _Sister Anne_ answered: '_I see nothing but the noon dust -a-blowing, and the green grass a-growing._' - -'Come down quickly,' shouted _Blue Beard_, 'or I will come up to you!' - -'I am coming,' answered his wife; and again she cried: '_Anne, Sister -Anne, do you see any one coming?_' - -'I see,' answered _Sister Anne_, 'yonder a great cloud of dust coming.' - -'Is it my brothers?' - -'Alas! no, sister. I see a flock of sheep.' - -'Will you not come down?' bawled _Blue Beard_. - -'Just one moment longer!' entreated his wife, and once more she called -out: '_Anne, Sister Anne, do you see nobody coming?_' - -'I see,' she answered, 'yonder two Knights a-riding, but they are yet a -great way off.... God be praised,' she cried a moment after, 'they are -our brothers! I am waving my handkerchief to them to hasten.' - -Then _Blue Beard_ stamped his foot and roared out so terribly that he -made the whole house tremble. The poor lady came down and, casting -herself, all in tears and dishevelled, at his feet, clasped him by the -ankles while she besought him for mercy. - -'This shall not help you,' said _Blue Beard_, 'You must die!' Then, -taking hold of her hair and twisting her head back, the better to -expose her beautiful throat, he exclaimed: 'This be the lesson I read -against curiosity, the peculiar vice of womankind, and which above -all others I find detestable. To that most fatal habit all the best -accredited religions, in whatever else they may differ, unite in -attributing the first cause of all misfortunes to which the race is -subject.... In this strain he continued for fully three minutes, still -grasping her hair with one hand while with the other he flourished his -sabre. - -As he ceased, poor _Fatima_ looked up at him with dying eyes. 'Ah, -sir!' she besought him, (if this curiosity be, as you remind me, my -worst sin, you will not be so cruel as to destroy me before I have -confessed and asked pardon for it. Grant me, then, just one moment more -to fix my thoughts on devotion!' - -[Illustration: Then BLUE BEARD roared out so terribly that he made the -whole house tremble.] - -'No, no,' was his answer; 'recommend thyself to Heaven'; and he swung -up his sabre to strike. - -At that very instant there sounded so loud a knocking at the gate that -he came to a sudden stop. His arm dropped as the gate flew open and -two cavaliers ran in with drawn swords and rushed upon him. Loosing -his hold upon _Fatima_, who sank fainting upon the grass, he ran to -save himself, but the two brothers were so hot on his heels that, after -pursuing him through the vineries and the orange-house, they overtook -him just as he reached the steps of the main porch. There they ran -their swords through his body, and, after making sure that he was dead, -returned to their sister, who opened her eyes, indeed, as they bent -over her, but had not strength enough to rise and embrace them. - - -_Blue Beard_ had no heirs, and so his wife became mistress of all his -estates. She employed a part of her wealth to marry her sister _Anne_ -to a young gentleman who had loved her a long while; another part to -purchase captains' commissions for her two step-brothers; and the rest -to marry herself to a very worthy gentleman who made her forget the -short but unhappy time she had passed with _Blue Beard_. - - - MORAL - (For Curious Wives) - _Wives should have one lord only. Some have reckon'd_ - _In Curiosity t' enjoy a second._ - _But Scripture says we may not serve two masters,_ - _And little keys have opened large disasters._ - - ANOTHER - - (For Chastising or Correcting Husbands) - - _The very best sermon that ever was preach'd_ - _Was a thought less effective the longer it reached._ - - - -CINDERELLA OR THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER - - -Once upon a time there lived a gentleman who married twice. His second -wife was a widow with two grown-up daughters, both somewhat past their -prime, and this woman would have been the proudest and most overbearing -in the world had not her daughters exactly resembled her with their -fine airs and insolent tempers. The husband, too, had by his first wife -a child of his own, a young daughter, and so good and so gentle that -she promised to grow up into the living image of her dead mother, who -had been the most lovable of women. - -The wedding festivities were no sooner over than the stepmother began -to show herself in her true colours. She could not endure the girl's -good qualities, which by contrast rendered her own daughters the more -odious. She put her to drudge at the meanest household work, and thus -she and her precious darlings not only wreaked their spite but saved -money to buy themselves dresses and finery. It was the child who -scoured the pots and pans, scrubbed the floors, washed down the stairs, -polished the tables, ironed the linen, darned the stockings, and made -the beds. She herself slept at the top of the house in a garret, upon a -wretched straw mattress, while her sisters had apartments of their own -with inlaid floors, beds carved and gilded in the latest fashion, and -mirrors in which they could see themselves from head to foot. - -Yet they were so helpless, or rather they thought it so menial to do -anything for themselves, that had they but a ribbon to tie, or a bow -to adjust, or a bodice to be laced, the child must be sent for. When -she came it was odds that they met her with a storm of abuse, in this -fashion:-- - -'What do you mean, pray, by answering the bell in this state? Stand -before the glass and look at yourself! Look at your hands--faugh! How -can you suppose we should allow you to touch a ribbon, or even come -near us, with such hands? Run downstairs, slut, and put yourself under -the kitchen pump'--and so on. - -'How can I help it?' thought the poor little drudge. 'If I do not -run at once when the bell rings, they scold me for that. Yet they -ring--both of them together sometimes--a minute after setting me to -rake out a grate and sift the ashes. As for looking at myself in the -glass, gladly would I do it if they allowed me one. But they have told -me that if I had a glass I should only waste time in front of it.' - -She kept these thoughts to herself, however, and suffered her ill-usage -patiently, not daring to complain to her father, who would, moreover, -have joined with the others in chiding her, for he was wholly under his -wife's thumb; and she had enough of chiding already. When she had done -her work she used to creep away to the chimney-corner and seat herself -among the cinders, and from this the household name for her came to -be _Cinder-slut_; but the younger sister, who was not so ill-tempered -as the elder, called her _Cinderella_. They were wise in their way to -deprive her of a looking-glass; for in truth, and in spite of her sorry -rags, _Cinderella_ was a hundred times more beautiful than they with -all their magnificent dresses. - - -It happened that the King's son gave a ball, and sent invitations -through the kingdom to every person of quality. Our two misses were -invited among the rest, for they cut a great figure in that part of -the country. Mightily pleased they were to be sure with their cards of -invitation, all printed in gold and stamped with the broad red seal of -the Heir Apparent; and mightily busy they were, discussing what gowns -and head-dresses would best become them. This meant more worry for -_Cinderella_, for it was she who ironed her sisters' linen, goffered -their tucks and frills, pleated their wristbands, pressed their -trimmings of old lace and wrapped them away in tissue paper. A score of -times all this lace, piece by piece, had to be unwrapped, inspected, -put away again; and after a trying-on, all the linen had to be ironed, -goffered, crimped, or pleated afresh for them. They could talk of -nothing but their ball dresses. - -[Illustration: She used to creep away to the chimney-corner and seat -herself among the cinders.] - -'For my part,' said the elder, 'I shall wear a velvet cramoisie trimmed -_à l'Anglaise_'--for she had a passion for cramoisie, and could not -perceive how ill the colour went with her complexion. 'I had thought of -cloth-of-gold, but there's the cost of the underskirt to be considered; -and underskirts seem to grow dearer and dearer in these days. What a -relief,' she went on, 'it must be to have money and not be forced to -set one thing against another!' - -'I,' said the younger, 'must make shift with my old underskirt; that -is, unless I can wheedle some money out of Papa'--for so, in their -affection, they called their stepfather. '_Cinderella_ can take out the -worst stains to-morrow with a little eau-de-Cologne. I believe that, -if she tries, she can make it look as good as new; and, at all events, -it will give her something to do instead of wasting an afternoon. I -don't pretend that I _like_ wearing an old underskirt, and I hope -to make dear Papa sensible of this; but against it I shall have the -gold-flowered robe, on which I am determined, and my diamond stomacher, -which is somewhat better than the common.' - -'And I, of course,' said the elder, 'must wear my diamond spray. If -only it had a ruby in the clasp instead of a sapphire! Rubies go so -much better with cramoisie.... I suppose there is no time now to ask -the jeweller to re-set it with a ruby.' - -'But you don't possess a ruby, dear,' murmured her sister, who did -possess one, and had no intention of lending it. 'And, besides, -sapphires suit you so much better!' - -They sent for the best milliner they could find, to build their -mob-caps in triple tiers; and for the best hairdresser to arrange -their hair; and their patches were supplied by the shop to which all -the Quality went. From time to time they called up _Cinderella_ to ask -her advice, for she had excellent taste. _Cinderella_ advised them -perfectly, and even offered her services to dress their hair for them -on the night of the ball. They accepted gladly enough. - -Whilst she was dressing them one asked her: '_Cinderella_, would you -not like to be going to the ball?' - -'Alas! miss,' said _Cinderella_, 'you are making fun of me. It is not -for the like of me to be there.' - -'You are right, girl. Folks would laugh indeed to see _Cinder-slut_ at -a ball!' - -Any one but _Cinderella_ would have pinned on their mob-caps awry; and -if you or I had been in her place, I won't swear but that we might have -pushed in the pins just a trifle carelessly. But she had no malice in -her nature; she attired them to perfection, though they found fault -with her all the while it was doing, and quite forgot to thank her -when it was done. Let it be related, in excuse for their tempers, that -they had passed almost two days without eating, so eager were they -and excited. The most of this time they had spent in front of their -mirrors, where they had broken more than a dozen laces in trying to -squeeze their waists and make them appear more slender. They were -dressed a full two hours before the time fixed for starting. But at -length the coach arrived at the door. They were tucked into it with a -hundred precautions, and _Cinderella_ followed it with her eyes as long -as she could; that is to say, until the tears rose and blinded them. - -She turned away weeping, back to the house, and crept into her dear -chimney-corner; where, being all alone in the kitchen, she could -indulge her misery. - -A long while she sat there. Suddenly, between two heavy sobs she looked -up, her eyes attracted by a strange blue glow on the far side of the -hearth: and there stood the queerest lady, who must have entered -somehow without knocking. - -Her powdered hair was dressed all about her head in the prettiest -of short curls, amid which the most exquisite jewels--diamonds, and -rubies, and emeralds--sparkled against the firelight. Her dress had -wide panniers bulging over a skirt of lace flounces, billowy and -delicate as sea-foam, and a stiff bodice, shaped to the narrowest -waist imaginable. Jewels flashed all over this dress--or at least -_Cinderella_ supposed them to be jewels, though, on second thoughts, -they might be fireflies, butterflies, glowworms. They seemed at any -rate to be alive, and to dart from one point to another of her attire. -Lastly, this strange lady held in her right hand a short wand, on the -end of which trembled a pale bluish-green flame; and it was this which -had first caught _Cinderella's_ eye and caused her to look up. - -'Good evening, child,' said the visitor in a sharp clear voice, at -the same time nodding kindly across the firelight. 'You seem to be in -trouble. What is the matter?' - -'I wish,' sobbed _Cinderella_. 'I wish,' she began again, and again she -choked. This was all she could say for weeping. - -'You wish, dear, that you could go to the ball; is it not so?' - -'Ah, yes!' said _Cinderella_ with a sigh. - -'Well, then,' said the visitor, 'be a good girl, dry your tears, and -I think it can be managed. I am your godmother, you must know, and in -younger days your mother and I were very dear friends.' She omitted, -perhaps purposely, to add that she was a Fairy; but _Cinderella_ was -soon to discover this too. 'Do you happen to have any pumpkins in the -garden?' her godmother asked. - -_Cinderella_ thought this an odd question. She could not imagine what -pumpkins had to do with going to a ball. But she answered that there -were plenty in the garden--a whole bed of them in fact. - -'Then let us go out and have a look at them.' - -They went out into the dark garden to the pumpkin patch, and her -godmother pointed to the finest of all with her wand. - -'Pick that one,' she commanded. - -_Cinderella_ picked it, still wondering. Her godmother opened a fruit -knife that had a handle of mother-of-pearl. With this she scooped out -the inside of the fruit till only the rind was left; then she tapped -it with her wand, and at once the pumpkin was changed into a beautiful -coach all covered with gold. - -'Next we must have horses,' said her godmother. 'The question is, Have -you such a thing as a mouse trap in the house?' - -_Cinderella_ ran to look into her mouse trap, where she found six mice -all alive. Her godmother, following, told her to lift the door of the -trap a little way, and as the mice ran out one by one she gave each -a tap with her wand, and each mouse turned at once into a beautiful -horse--which made a fine team of six horses, of a lovely grey, dappled -with mouse colour. - -Now the trouble was to find a coachman. - -'I will go and see,' said _Cinderella_, who had dried her tears and was -beginning to find this great fun, 'if there isn't such a thing as a rat -in the rat trap. We can make a coachman of him.' - -'You are right, dear,' said her godmother; 'run and look.' - -_Cinderella_ fetched her the rat trap. There were three large rats in -it. The Fairy chose one of the three because of his enormous whiskers, -and at a touch he was changed into a fat coachman. - -Next she said: 'Go to the end of the garden; and there in the corner of -the wall behind the watering-pot, unless I am mistaken, you will find -six lizards. Bring them to me.' - -_Cinderella_ had no sooner brought them than her godmother changed them -into six footmen, who climbed up at once behind the coach with their -bedizened liveries, and clung on as though they had been doing nothing -else all their lives. - -The Fairy then said to _Cinderella_: 'Hey now, child! This will do to -go to the ball with, unless you are hard to please.' - -'Indeed, yes,' answered _Cinderella_. 'But how can I go, as I am, in -these horrid clothes?' - -'You might have given me credit for thinking of that too!' Her -godmother did but touch her with her wand, and on the instant her rags -were transformed into cloth of gold and silver, all bespangled with -precious stones. She felt her hair creeping up into curls, and tiring -and arranging itself in tiers, on the topmost of which a double ostrich -feather grew from a diamond clasp that caught the rays of the old -lady's wand and shot them about the garden, this way and that, making -the slugs and snails crawl to shelter. - -'But the chief mark of a lady,' said her godmother, eyeing her with -approval, 'is to be well shod,' and so saying she pulled out a pair of -glass slippers, into which _Cinderella_ poked her toes doubtfully, for -glass is not as a rule an accommodating material for slippers. You have -to be measured very carefully for it. - -But these fitted to perfection: and thus arrayed from top to toe, -_Cinderella_ had nothing more to do but kiss her godmother, thank -her, and step into the coach, the six horses of which were pawing the -cabbage beds impatiently. - -'Good-bye, child! 'said her godmother. 'But of one thing I must warn -you seriously. I have power to send you thus to the ball, but my power -lasts only until midnight. Not an instant beyond midnight must you stay -there. If you over-stay the stroke of twelve, your coach will become -but a pumpkin again, your horses will change back into mice, your -footmen into lizards, and your ball dress shrink to the same rags in -which I found you.' - -_Cinderella_ promised that she would not fail to take her departure -before midnight: and, with that, the coachman cracked his whip and she -was driven away, beside herself with joy. - - -In the royal palace, and in the royal gardens, over which shone the -same stars which had looked down upon _Cinderella's_ pumpkins, the ball -was at its height: with scores and scores of couples dancing on the -waxed floor to the music of the violins; and under the trees, where the -music throbbed in faint echoes, other scores of couples moving, passing -and repassing, listening to the plash of the fountains and inhaling the -sweet scent of the flowers. - -Now, as the King's son walked among his guests, word was brought to him -by his Chamberlain that a grand Princess, whom nobody knew, had just -arrived and desired admission. - -'She will not tell her name,' said the Chamberlain; 'but that she is -a Princess and of very high dignity cannot be doubted. Apart from her -beauty and the perfection of her address (of which your Royal Highness, -perhaps, will allow me to be no mean judge), I may mention that the -very jewels in her hair are worth a whole province.' - -The King's son hastened to the gate to receive the fair stranger, -handed her down from the coach, and led her through the gardens, -where the guests drew apart and gazed in wonder at her loveliness. -Still escorted by him she entered the ball-room, where at once a -great silence fell, the dancing was broken off, the violins ceased to -play--so taken, so ravished was everybody by the vision of this unknown -one. Everywhere ran the murmur, 'Ah! how beautiful she is!' The _King_ -himself, old as he was, could not take his eyes off her, and confided -to the _Queen_ in a low voice that it was long since he had seen so -adorable a creature. - -All the ladies were busily studying her head-dress and her ball gown, -that they might order the like next day for themselves, if only (vain -hope!) they could find materials so exquisite and dressmakers clever -enough. - -The King's son took her to the place of honour, and afterwards led her -out to dance. She danced so gracefully that all admired her yet the -more. A splendid supper was served, but the young _Prince_ ate nothing -of it, so intent was he on gazing upon her. - -She went and sat by her sisters, who bridled with pleasure at the -honour. She did them a thousand civilities, sharing with them the -nectarines and citrons which the _Prince_ brought her; and still not -recognising her, they marvelled at this, being quite unused (as they -never deserved) to be selected for attentions so flattering. - -The King's son now claimed her for another dance. It had scarcely come -to an end when _Cinderella_ heard the clock strike the quarter to -twelve; whereupon she instantly desired her partner to lead her to the -_King_ and _Queen_. 'For I must be going,' she said. - -'It is cruel of you to go so early,' he protested. 'But at least you -will come again to-morrow and grant me many dances?' - -'Is there to be another ball, then, to-morrow?' she asked. - -'To-morrow, yes; and as many morrows as you wish, if only you will -come.' - -'Ah, if I could! 'sighed _Cinderella_ to herself: for she was young, -and it seemed to her that she could never have enough of such evenings -as this, though they went on for ever and ever. - -The _Prince_ led her to the daïs where sat the _King_ and _Queen_. She -made a deep reverence before them, a slighter but no less gracious one -to the company, and withdrew. Although she had given no orders, her -coach stood waiting for her. Slipping in, she was whisked home in the -time it would take you to wink an eye. - -She had scarcely entered the house, however, before she received a -shock. For on the threshold of the kitchen, glancing down to make sure -that her ball gown was not disarranged by this rapid journey, she -perceived that it had vanished--changed back to the rags of her daily -wear. But there, in the light of the hearth, stood her godmother, who -smiled so pleasantly that _Cinderella_ choked down her little cry of -disappointment. - -[Illustration: Whereupon she instantly desired her partner to lead her -to the KING and QUEEN.] - -'Well, child? And how have you fared?' - -'Godmama, I have never been so happy in all my life! And it is all -thanks to you!' But after thanking her, _Cinderella_ could not help -confessing how she longed to go to the ball next evening. The King's -son had begged her to come again, and oh! if she had been able to -promise! - -'As to that, child,' said her godmother, 'we will see about it when the -time comes. But it has been lonely, keeping watch and sitting up for -you. Will you not reward me by telling all about it?' - -_Cinderella_ needed no such invitation; she was dying to relate -her adventures. She talked and talked, her godmother still smiling -and questioning. For two hours, may be, she talked and was still -recollecting a score of things to tell when her sisters' coach rumbled -up to the gate, and almost at once there came a loud ring at the bell. -She stared and rubbed her eyes, for at the first sound of it her -godmother had vanished! - -_Cinderella_ ran and opened the door to her sisters. 'What a long time -you have stayed,' said she, yawning, rubbing her eyes, and stretching -herself as though she had just waked out of sleep. (She had felt, -however, no inclination at all to sleep since their departure!) - -'If you had been at the ball,' said the elder sister, 'you would not -have felt tired. One of the guests was the loveliest Princess--oh, the -loveliest you ever could see! She showed us a thousand civilities. She -gave us nectarines and citrons.' - -_Cinderella_ contained her joy. Upstairs, while she unplaited her -sisters' hair and unlaced their bodices, she asked the name of the -Princess. But they answered that no one knew her; that the King's son -was wild about her, and would give everything in the world to discover -who she was. _Cinderella_ smiled. She no longer felt any temptation at -all to be clumsy with the hairpins. - -'Why then,' she said, 'she must be beautiful indeed. And she went away, -you say, without telling her name? Is no one going to see her again?' - -'As for that, she may come again to the ball to-morrow. I am told that -the _Prince_ begged it, almost with tears in his eyes.... For there is -to be another ball to-morrow, and we are going!' - -'Ah, heavens!' sighed _Cinderella_, how lucky you are! Might I not just -see her? Please, please, Sister Caroline, take me to-morrow--I could -manage quite well if only you lent me your yellow gown which you wear -every evening!' - -'Hoity-toity! 'snapped _Miss Caroline_. 'You cannot be awake. You must -have been dreaming to some purpose if you see me lending my clothes to -a nasty little Cinder-slut!' - -_Cinderella_ had quite well expected some such rebuff, and was glad -enough to get it, for it would have been very awkward if her sister had -been willing to lend the gown. - - -The next evening the two sisters were at the ball; and so was -_Cinderella_, but in even finer attire than before. Her godmother -had spared no pains, and as for the expense, that hardly needs to be -considered when you can turn pumpkins into gilt coaches, cobwebs into -Valenciennes lace, and beetles' wings into rubies, with the tap of a -wand. - -The King's son in his impatience flew to her coach door as soon as she -arrived. Throughout the evening he never left her side, nor ceased to -make pretty speeches; and she, pretty maid, was far from finding his -behaviour tiresome--so far, indeed, that she forgot her godmother's -warning. The end was, that in the midst of a dance she heard the stroke -of a clock, looked up, was dismayed to find it the first stroke of -twelve when she believed it yet an hour short of midnight, and made her -escape as lightly as a deer. The _Prince_ followed, but could not catch -her. Only she dropped one of her glass slippers, which he picked up and -treasured. - -With the last stroke of twelve, coach and footmen had whisked away, -and poor _Cinderella_, barefoot now as well as in rags, panted -homeward over roads where the flints cut her until she bled, and the -owls and great moths blundered out of the bushes against her face. To -make matters worse, a thunderstorm broke before she had ran half the -distance, and she arrived home in a terrible plight, muddy, drenched to -the skin, and almost more dead than alive. In one thing only she was -fortunate: she had outstripped her sisters, whose coach on the way home -lost a wheel--and I have a suspicion that _Cinderella's_ godmother had -something to do with this misadventure too. - -At all events when _Cinderella_ opened the kitchen door the little lady -stood as she had stood the night before, in the glow of the hearth, -awaiting her. - -'Well, child,' she said, frowning, yet the frown was not altogether -unkindly, 'it is easily seen that you have forgotten my warning and -have suffered for it. But what is _that_ you are clutching?' - -Poor _Cinderella_ drew from under her bedraggled bodice a crystal -slipper, fellow to the missing one. It was the one remnant of all her -finery, and somehow, scarcely knowing why, she had hugged it to her -while she ran and never let it slip in all her stumblings. - -Her godmother gazed at her with a queer expression, that began by being -a frown, yet in the end had certainly changed into a shrewd smile. - -'You have been careless,' she said. 'Yet I am pleased to see that you -have managed to keep, at any rate, one-half of your godmother's gift. -'I think she meant by this that whereas all the rest of _Cinderella's_ -adornment had been contrived out of something other than it was, the -two glass slippers had been really produced out of the Fairy's pocket. -They alone had not vanished at the stroke of midnight. 'But what has -become of the other one?' her godmother asked. - -_Cinderella_ did not know for certain, but fancied that she must have -dropped it in her hurry to escape from the palace. - -'Yes, you are careless,' repeated the Fairy; 'but decidedly you are not -unlucky.' - -And with that she vanished, as the bell sounded announcing the -sisters'return. - -They were not in the best of humours, to begin with. _Cinderella_ asked -them if they had again found the ball enjoyable, and if the beautiful -lady had been there. They told her yes; but that on the stroke of -twelve she had taken flight, and so hurriedly that she had let fall -one of her small glass slippers, the prettiest in the world, which the -King's son had picked up. They added, that this indeed was the first -cause of their delay; for, seeking their carriage, they had found the -entry blocked, and the _Prince_ in the wildest state of mind, demanding -of the guards if they had not seen a Princess pass out. The guards -answered that they had seen no one pass out but a ragged girl, who -looked more like a country wench than a Princess. Amid this to-do, the -sisters had with difficulty found their coach; and then, within two -miles of home, a wheel had come off and the coach had lurched over, in -a thunderstorm, too; and they had been forced to walk the rest of the -way, the one with a bruised shoulder, and the other (which was worse) -with a twisted ankle. But, after all, the dance had been worth these -mischances and sufferings; and, said they, harking back, the _Prince_ -was undoubtedly deep in love, for they had left him gazing fondly at -the slipper, and little doubt--mysteriously as she chose to behave--he -would make every effort to find the beautiful creature to whom it -belonged. - - -They told the truth, too. For a few days after, the King's son had it -proclaimed by sound of trumpet that he would marry her whose foot the -slipper exactly fitted. - -At first they tried it on the Princesses of the Court: - -Then on the Duchesses: - -Then on the Marchionesses: - -Then on the Countesses and Viscountesses: - -Then on the Baronesses: - -And so on, through all the ladies of the Court, and a number of -competitors, who, though they did not belong to it, yet supposed that -the smallness of their feet was an argument that their parents had very -unjustly come down in the world. The Prime Minister, who carried the -glass slipper on a velvet cushion, was kept very busy during the next -few weeks. - -At length he called on _Cinderella's_ two sisters, who did all they -could to squeeze a foot into the slipper, but by no means could they -succeed. - -_Cinderella_, who was looking on and admiring their efforts, said -laughingly:-- - -'Let me see if it will fit me.' - -Her sisters began to laugh and mock at her, but the Prime Minister, -who had come to make trial of the slipper, looked at _Cinderella_ -attentively, and seeing how good-looking she was, said that it was but -just--he had orders to try it upon every one. - -[Illustration: The Prime Minister was kept very busy during the next -few weeks.] - -He asked _Cinderella_ to sit down, and drawing the slipper upon her -little foot, he saw that it went on easily, and fitted the foot like -wax. Great was the astonishment of the two sisters; but it was greater -when _Cinderella_ pulled from her pocket the other little slipper and -put it upon the other foot. On top of this came a rap at the door, -and in walked the Fairy Godmother, who, by a touch of her wand upon -_Cinderella's_ clothes, made them still more magnificent than they had -been before. - -And now her two sisters knew _Cinderella_ to be the same beautiful -creature they had seen at the ball. They threw themselves at her feet, -begging her pardon for all the ill-usage they had made her suffer. -_Cinderella_ raised and kissed them, saying that she forgave them with -all her heart, and entreated them to be loving to her always. - -They led her to the young _Prince_, arrayed as she was. He thought -her lovelier than ever, and, a few days after, they were married. -_Cinderella_, who was as good as she was beautiful, lodged her two -sisters in the palace, and married them that same day to two great -Lords of the Court. - - - MORAL - - _Better than wealth or art,_ - _Jewels or a painted face,_ - _It is when a natural heart_ - _Inhabits its natural place_ - _And beats at a natural pace._ - - ANOTHER - - _Yet youth that is poor of purse,_ - _No matter how witty or handsome,_ - _Will find its talents no worse_ - _For a godmamma to advance 'em._ - - - -BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - - -Once upon a time, in a country a long way from here, there stood a -flourishing city, full of commerce; and in that city lived a merchant -so lucky in all his ventures that it seemed as if fortune waited on his -wishes. But while enormously rich, he had a very long family of six -sons and six daughters; and as yet not one of them was settled in life. -The boys were too young to go out in the world; and the girls, who had -everything at home the heart could desire, were in no hurry to risk a -change by choosing a husband, although many rich and noble suitors paid -court to them. - -But one day an unexpected disaster brought this pleasant state of -things to an end. Their house caught fire and was burnt to the ground; -and with it perished not only the magnificent furniture, but the -merchant's account books, bank notes, gold and silver, and the precious -wares on which his wealth depended. Scarcely anything was saved. - -This was but the beginning of their misfortunes. Their father, who -up to now had prospered in everything he touched, lost in a very -short while every ship he had upon the sea. Some were wrecked, others -captured by pirates. His agents failed; his clerks in foreign countries -proved unfaithful; and, in short, from the height of riches he suddenly -fell into the direst poverty. - -Nothing was left to him but one poor little country cottage, at least -a hundred leagues from the city in which he had lived. In this he was -driven to find refuge, and to this he carried off his family, who were -in despair since the overthrow. The daughters especially could not -endure the thought of dwelling in such a den (as they called it). At -first they had felt sure that on hearing the news their suitors would -be tripping one another up in haste to renew their offers of marriage. -But in this they were soon undeceived. Their downfall was no sooner -known than all these flattering wooers took to their heels in a troop. -They fared no better with their intimate friends, who at once dropped -their acquaintance. Nay, those to whom our merchant had formerly shown -the greatest kindness were now the most eager to speak ill of him. - -So nothing was left for this hapless family but to take their departure -from the city and shut themselves up in the cottage, which stood in the -depth of a dismal and almost trackless forest. No servants now to wait -on them! The sons tilled the ground and swept out the farm sheds; and -the daughters, dressed like country girls in coarse linen frocks, were -forced to turn their delicate hands to the roughest employment and live -on hard fare of which there was little enough. - -Only the youngest daughter showed a brave heart. She had been -despondent as any of them to begin with; but after weeping--as well she -might--for her father's misfortunes, she recovered her natural gaiety, -made the best of things, tried to forget how ungrateful the world had -been, kept her father and her brothers amused with her cheerful wit, -and after she had done her work, would sing and play. But her sisters -would not join with her in making the best of things. 'It is very easy -for you to be happy,' the eldest grumbled. 'You have low tastes and -were born for this kind of life.' The fact is, they were all jealous of -her because of her sweet temper and good looks. So beautiful, indeed, -was this youngest sister that in the old days every one had agreed to -call her _Beauty_--by that and by no other name she was known. Alone of -them she might easily, in the first days of their ruin, have found a -husband; but she could not think of this while she could be of use to -help and console her family. - -Two years passed, and there came news which seemed to offer a hope to -escape. One of their father's ships, long supposed to be lost, had -arrived in port with a rich cargo. The message further advised his -return to the city with speed, or his, agents might sell the goods too -cheaply and he would lose his gains. So, whilst his children danced -with joy at the news, the merchant set about preparing for his long -journey. - -In their transport his daughters loaded him with commissions for gowns -and jewels it would have taken a fortune to buy. Only _Beauty_ would -not ask for anything. Her father, noting her silence, interrupted the -others who still kept adding to their list of requirements. - -'Well, _Beauty_,' he said, 'and what shall I bring home for you? Surely -you, too, wish for something?' - -'Dear father,' she answered, 'I wish for the most precious thing in the -world; and that is to see you home again safe and sound.' - -This answer covered the sisters with confusion, and vexed them so that -one of them, speaking up for the others, said tartly: 'This small miss -is putting on airs. She thinks, no doubt, she cuts a figure with her -affected fine sentiments!' - -Her father, however, was touched by her good feeling. Nevertheless he -told her to choose something--'For,' said he, 'at your age it is only -natural to like dresses and pretty presents.' - -'Well, dear father,' said she, 'since you insist, I will beg you to -bring me home a rose. I have not seen one since we came to live here, -and I love roses.' In this way _Beauty_ contrived to obey her father -and yet to put him to no expense. - -The day came for the merchant to embrace them all and bid them -farewell. He made the best of his way to the great city; and arrived -there to be met with a great disappointment. To be sure his vessel had -come safely to port; but his partners, believing him dead, had taken -possession of it and divided the cargo between them. To make good his -claim he was forced to bring a number of tedious law-suits. He won them -in the end; but only to find, after six months of trouble and expense, -that he was almost as poor as when he started. - -To make his misery complete he was forced to travel back in the winter, -in the most inclement weather; so that by the time he reached the -skirts of the forest he was ready to drop with fatigue. But reminding -himself that his home was now not many leagues away, he called up what -strength, remained to him. - -As he pushed on through the forest, night overtook him; and in the -piercing cold, half buried--his horse and he--in the deep snow that hid -every pathway, the poor merchant feared that his last hour had come. -Not so much as a hut did he pass. The only shelter to be found was the -trunk of a hollow tree; and there he cowered through the long night, -kept awake by his hunger and the howling of the wolves. Nor did the -day bring him much comfort: for thick snow lay everywhere, and not a -path was to be seen. It was only after a weary search that he managed -to recover his horse, which had wandered away and partly sheltered -itself in another hollow tree. He mounted, and now in a little while -discovered a sort of track which presently grew easier. - -Following this, he found himself in an avenue of trees, at the entrance -of which he halted and rubbed his eyes. For no snow had fallen in this -avenue, and the trees were tall orange-trees, planted in four rows and -covered with flowers and fruit; and here and there among the trees -were statues, some of single figures, others of groups representing -scenes of war, but all coloured like real life. At the end of the -avenue, straight in front of him, rose a magnificent castle in many -terraces. The merchant rode around to the stable courtyard, which -he found empty; and there, with half-frozen hands, he unbridled and -stabled his horse. Within the doorway he found a staircase of agate -with balusters of carved gold. He mounted it and passed through room -after room, each more splendidly furnished than the last. They were -deliciously warm, too, and he began to feel his limbs again. But he -was hungry; where could he find some one to give him food? Everywhere -was silence; and yet the place had no look of being abandoned. -Drawingrooms, bedchambers, galleries--all stood unlocked.... At last, -tired of roaming, he came to a halt in an apartment where some one had -lit a bright fire. A sofa drawn up cosily beside it, invited him to sit -and warm his limbs; and resting there, he closed his eyes and fell into -deep and grateful slumber. - -As weariness had sent him to sleep, so hunger awoke him. He opened -his eyes and saw at his elbow a table with meats and wine upon it. He -had been fasting for more than twenty-four hours, and lost no time -in falling-to. He hoped that he might soon have sight of this most -hospitable entertainer, whoever he might be, and an opportunity of -thanking him. Still no one appeared; and now this good food did for him -what fatigue had done before. He dropped off again into an easy slumber -which lasted for four hours almost. Again awaking, he saw at his elbow -another small table--of porphyry this time--upon which the unknown -hands had set out a dainty meal of cakes, crystallised fruits and -liqueurs. To this, too, he did justice. But, as the time still passed -and no one appeared, he began to feel terrified, and resolved to search -once more through all the rooms.... But still he found no one. - -[Illustration: He had been fasting, for more than twenty-four hours, -and lost no time in falling to.] - -He was standing lost in thought, when of a sudden it came into his -mind that some kindly power had perhaps prepared this palace of wonder -for him, that it with all its riches might indeed be his. Possessed by -this notion he once again made a tour of the rooms and took stock of -their treasures, planning in his mind how he would divide them amongst -his children, assigning this apartment to one and that to another, and -whispering to himself what joy he would carry home after all from his -journey. Then he went down into the garden, where--though it was the -depth of winter--the birds were singing and the air breathed the scent -of a thousand flowers. - -'Surely,' he told himself, 'my daughters will be happy here and never -desire any more to go back to the city. Quick! Let me saddle my horse -at once and ride home with the news!' - -The way to the stable was an alley fenced on either hand with palings, -and over the palings hung great clusters of roses in bloom. They -reminded him of his promise to _Beauty_. He plucked one, and was about -to pluck a whole nosegay, when he was startled by a horrible noise -behind him, and attempted to turn. But behind him stood a hideous -_Beast_ who was overtaking him and reaching out towards him. - -'Who gave you leave to pluck my roses?' roared this monster. 'Was it -not enough that I made you welcome in my palace and treated you kindly? -And you show your gratitude by stealing my flowers! But your insolence -shall not go unpunished!' - -The good merchant, terrified no less by the sight of this _Beast_ than -by his threats, let drop the rose and flung himself on his knees. - -'My Lord,' he cried, 'have pity on me! I am not ungrateful; but after -all your kindness I could not guess that so small a thing would offend -you.' - -This speech did not at all abate the _Beast's_ wrath. 'Hold your -tongue, sir,' he commanded, 'if you can offer me nothing but flatteries -and false titles. I am not "my lord." I am the _Beast_; and your words -will not save you from the death you deserve.' - -The merchant, although in fear of his life, plucked up courage to tell -the monster that the rose which he had been bold to pluck was for one -of his daughters, by name _Beauty_. Then, in hope either to delay the -_Beast's_ vengeance or to touch his compassion, he launched into the -tale of all his misfortunes, and of his reasons for the journey, not -forgetting to mention _Beauty_ again and her request. - -The _Beast_ considered for a moment before answering him in a somewhat -milder tone: 'I will forgive you; but only on condition that you -give me one of your daughters. _Some one_ must make amends for this -trespass.' - -'Heaven forgive me,' the merchant entreated, 'but how can I promise -such a thing! Even were I cruel enough to purchase my life at the cost -of a child, on what excuse could I bring her?' - -'No excuse is necessary,' replied the _Beast_ shortly. 'Whichever you -bring must come here of her own free will, or not at all. Go home and -try if there be one brave and loving enough to sacrifice herself to -save your life. You seem to be an honest man. Give me your word to -return here at the end of a month and bring whichever of your daughters -you can persuade to come with you. If you can persuade none of them, -you must come alone; and I warn you that, if you fail of it, I shall -come and fetch you.' - -What was the poor man to do? He promised, for he saw death staring him -in the face; and having given his promise he hoped to be allowed to -depart. But the _Beast_ informed him that he could not go until next -day. - -'Then,' said he, 'at daybreak you will find a horse ready for you who -will carry you home in less than no time. Now go and eat your supper, -and await my commands.' - -The merchant, more dead than alive, crept back to his rooms. There, -before a blazing fire, he found a delicious supper spread, inviting -him to eat. But so distraught was he, that no food, however delicious, -could have tempted him had he not been afraid that the _Beast_ might be -hiding somewhere to watch him. In fear of this he forced himself to sit -and taste of the dishes. - -A loud noise in the next room warned him that the _Beast_ was coming. -Since he could not escape, he mustered what courage he could to conceal -his terror, and faced about to the doorway. - -'Have you made a good supper?' was the _Beast's_ first question. - -The merchant in humblest voice answered that, thanks to his host's kind -attention, he had fared excellently well. - -'I am paying you a visit,' said the _Beast_, 'to warn you again to be -honest with your daughter. Describe me to her just as I am. Let her -be free to choose whether she will come or no; but tell her that, her -course once chosen, there can be no retreat, nor even reflection after -you have brought her to me. To break faith then will avail nothing: she -will but destroy you without winning her own release.' - -Again the spirit-broken merchant repeated his promise. - -The _Beast_ appeared to be content at length. 'Retire to bed now,' -he commanded, 'and do not get up to-morrow until you see the sun -and hear a golden bell rung. Then, before starting, you will find -breakfast laid for you here; your horse will be standing ready saddled -in the courtyard; and you may carry back the rose to your daughter -_Beauty_--as you call her. For the rest, I count on seeing you back in -a month's time. So, farewell.' - -The merchant, who dared not disobey a single one of these orders, -retired to bed at once, though without any temptation to sleep; and -again, though he passed a wretched night, he was punctual to rise -with the sun. A golden bell rang; and prompt on the sound he found -breakfast laid, still by unseen hands. After breakfast he went down to -the stables, and on his way paused to pick up the rose, which lay in -the alley where it had dropped from his hand. It was fresh as ever, and -smelt as sweetly as though it yet grew on the tree. - -A few paces further on he found his horse standing ready saddled, -with a handsome cloak of furs, far warmer than his own, lying across -the saddle. He put it on and mounted, and now he had to wonder at yet -another miracle. His horse set off at an incredible speed, so that -before he could even turn in the saddle the palace had sunk out of -sight. - -Could the horse have felt the weight on the good man's mind, it had -never made such a pace. But it took its own way, insensible to rein or -bridle; nor halted until it reached the door of the cottage. - -The merchant's sons and daughters had rushed out at his approach; -though it was not until he drew quite close that they recognised their -father in this horseman superbly cloaked, with a rose at his holster, -and mounted on a horse that travelled at such a speed. When they -recognised him, they made sure that he brought the best of news. But -the tears that trickled down his cheeks as he dismounted told them -another story. - -His first motion then was to pluck the fatal rose from the pommel and -hand it to _Beauty_, saying: 'Here is what you asked me to bring. You -little know what it will cost you all.' - -This, and his sorrowful look, gave the eldest daughter her cue. 'I was -certain of it!' she said. 'Did I not say, all along, that to force -a rose at this time of the year would cost you more than would have -bought presents for all the rest of us? A rose, in mid-winter! and such -a rose! There--one has only to look at it to see that you took good -care _Beauty_ should have her present, no matter at what cost to us!' - -'It is all too true,' answered their father sorrowfully, 'that this -rose has cost me dear--far dearer than all the presents you others -begged of me. But the cost is not in money; for would to God I could -have bought it with the last penny in my purse!' - -His speech, you may be sure, excited their curiosity, and they gave -him no rest until he had told the whole of his story. It left their -hopes utterly dashed: and the daughters lamented their lot, while their -brothers hardily declared that they would never allow their father to -return to this accursed castle--they would march thither in a body and -destroy the horrible _Beast_ who owned it. But their father assured -them that he had given his word and would rather die than break it. - -Thereat the sisters turned upon _Beauty_ and started to upbraid and -rail against her. - -'It is all your fault,' they declared; 'and this is what comes of -your pretended modesty! Why could you not have asked for dresses and -jewels as we did? Even if you could not get them, at least the demand -would have cost nothing. But you chose to be singular--you, with your -precious rose! and now our father must die, and we must all suffer -through your affectation!' - -Poor _Beauty_ controlled her tears and answered them: 'Yes, I am to -blame for all this, though, indeed, dear sisters, I did it innocently; -for how could I guess that to ask for a rose in the middle of summer, -as it was then, would give rise to all this misery? But what does that -matter? Innocent or guilty, I cannot allow you to suffer for what was -my fault; and so I will go back with our father to save him from his -promise. That will be in a month's time, and in this little month, I -beg of you, let us be happy together without reproaches.' - -At first her brothers would not hear of any such sacrifice, and her -father was equally set against it, until the sisters again fired up -in their jealousy and accused him of being distressed only because it -happened to be _Beauty_; if another of his daughters (they hinted) -had offered to pay this price for his life, he would have accepted it -cheerfully enough! - -_Beauty_ closed this talk by saying firmly that, whether they wished -it or not, she would go--'And who knows,' said she, forcing a brave -smile, 'but this fate of mine, which seems so terrible, may cover some -extraordinary and happy fortune?' She said it merely to hearten them; -but her sisters, fancying her deluded by vanity and self-conceit, -smiled maliciously and applauded. So their father gave way, and it was -agreed that _Beauty_ must go. For her part she desired only that the -few days remaining to her might be as happy as possible; and so, as -they passed she spoke little of what was before her, and, if at all, -only to treat it lightly and as a piece of good fortune. When the time -drew near she shared up all her trinkets and little possessions with -her sisters--for, badly as they had treated her, they were the only -friends she had. Yet jealousy had made their hearts so wicked that when -the fatal day arrived they actually rejoiced to hear the neighing of a -horse which, punctually sent by the _Beast_, arrived at the door of the -cottage. - -[Illustration: Soon they caught sight of the castle in the distance.] - -The brothers would have rushed out and slain the beautiful animal; -but _Beauty_, mastering their anger with a few tender words, bade -her father mount into the saddle; and so, after bidding her sisters -farewell with a tenderness that forced them to weep at the last, -climbed to the pillion behind him quite as if she were setting out -for a holiday. They were off! The horse seemed to fly rather than to -gallop; so smoothly that _Beauty_ could scarcely feel the motion save -by the soft wind that beat on her cheek. Soon they caught sight of the -castle in the distance. Her father, less happy than she, again and -again asked and begged her to alight and return--a most idle offer, -for he had no real control of the reins. But _Beauty_ did not listen, -because her mind was made up. - -Nevertheless, she was awed, and all the more when, as the fleet horse -galloped up to the courtyard, they were met by a great salvo of guns -and, as the echoes died away, by the sound of soft music within the -palace. - -The horse had come to a stop, by a flight of agate steps; a light shone -down these steps from a porchway within which the violins kept their -throbbing. _Beauty_ slipped down from the saddle, and her father, -alighting after her, took her by the hand and led her to the chamber in -which he had first supped; where, sure enough, they found a cheerful -fire and a score of candles lit and burning with an exquisite perfume, -and--best of all--a table laid with the daintiest of suppers. - -The merchant, accustomed to the ways of their host, knew that the -supper was meant for them, and _Beauty_ fell-to with a good appetite. -Her spirits indeed were rising. There had been no sign of any _Beast_ -in all the many rooms through which she had passed, and everything in -them had seemed to breathe of gaiety and good living. - -But this happy frame of mind did not last long. They had scarcely -finished supper when the _Beast_ was heard coming through the distant -rooms. At the sound--the heavy padding of his feet, the roar 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.' - -'Well answered,' replied the _Beast_; 'and since you have come of -your own accord, you shall stay. As for you, my good sir,' said he to -the merchant, 'you will take your departure at sunrise. The bell will -give you warning; delay not to rise, eat your breakfast, and depart as -before. But remember that you are forbidden ever to come within sight -of my palace again.' - -Then, turning to _Beauty_, he said:-- - -'Take your father into the next room, and choose between you everything -you think will please your brothers and sisters. You will find there -two travelling trunks: fill them as full as they will hold.' - -Sorrowful as she was at the certainty of losing her father so soon and -for ever, _Beauty_ made ready to obey the _Beast's_ orders, and he left -them as he had come, saying:-- - -'Good night, _Beauty_! Good night, good sir!' - -When they were alone, _Beauty_ and her father went into the next -room, which proved to be a store-chamber piled with treasures a king -and queen might have envied. After choosing and setting apart in -heaps,--one for each of her sisters,--the most magnificent dresses she -could find, _Beauty_ opened a cupboard which had a door of crystal -framed in gold, and stood for a moment dazzled by the precious stones -that lay piled on every shelf. After choosing a vast number and adding -them to her heaps, she opened yet another wardrobe and found it full of -money in gold pieces. This set her pondering. - -'I think, father,' she said, 'that we had better empty these trunks -again, and fill them with money. For money can always be turned to -account, whereas to sell these precious stones you would have to go -to some jeweller, who very likely would cheat you, and perhaps be -suspicious of them. But with these pieces of gold you can buy land, -houses, furniture, jewels--what you will--and no one will ask any -questions.' - -Her father agreed. Yet he first of all tried to make room for the money -by emptying out the few things he had packed for himself. But this was -no good: for it seemed that the trunks were made in folds which opened -the wider the more he put in. Somehow the more they packed, the more -room there seemed to be, and they ended by replacing all the dresses -and precious stones they had taken out. But now the trunks were so -heavy that an elephant would have sunk under them. - -'It is all a cheat!' cried the merchant. The _Beast_ is mocking us, and -only pretended to give us these things, knowing that I could not carry -them away.' - -'Wait a little,' advised _Beauty_. 'That would be a sorry jest, and -I cannot help thinking that the _Beast_ is honest; and that since he -offered these gifts he will find you also the means to carry them. The -best thing we can do is to strap up the trunks and leave them ready -here.' - -So they did this and went back to the little room, where to their -amazement they found a breakfast laid on the table. For a moment they -could scarcely believe that the night had flown by whilst they were -occupied in ransacking the treasure chamber and packing the trunks. -But, glancing at the windows, they saw that day was indeed breaking; -and presently a bell sounded, warning the merchant to eat quickly and -depart. - -He finished his meal, and they went down together to the courtyard, -where two horses stood ready--the one laden with the two trunks, the -other saddled for the merchant to ride. And now _Beauty_ and her father -would fain have spent a long time in bidding one another farewell. But -the two horses neighed and pawed the ground so impatiently that he was -afraid to linger. Tearing himself from his daughter's arms he mounted -in haste, and could scarcely turn to say good-bye before both horses -sprang away swift as the wind and he was lost to sight in an instant. - -Poor _Beauty_! She gazed and gazed through her tears, and so mounted -the stairs sorrowfully back to her own chamber. On reaching it she -felt herself oppressed with sleepiness, for she had passed the night -without undressing, and, moreover, for a month past her sleep had been -broken and haunted with terrors. So, having nothing better to do, she -went to bed, and was nestling down in the perfumed sheets when her eyes -fell on the little table by the bedside. Some one had set a cup of hot -chocolate there, and, half asleep, she reached out her hand for it -and drank it; whereupon her eyes closed and she fell into a delicious -slumber, such as she had not known since the day when her father -brought home the fatal rose. - -She dreamed that she was walking alongside an endless canal, the banks -of which were bordered with tall orange-trees and myrtles in flower. -There, as she wandered disconsolately lamenting her fate, of a sudden a -young _Prince_ stood before her. He was handsome as the God of Love in -picture-books, and when he spoke it was with a voice that went straight -to her heart. 'Dear _Beauty_,' he said, 'you are not so unfortunate as -you suppose. It is here you shall find the reward of your goodness, -denied to you elsewhere. Use your wits to find me out under the -disguise which hides me--that is, if as I stand here now you find me -not altogether contemptible. For I love you tenderly--you alone--and in -making me happy you can attain to your own happiness. Beloved, never -distrust your own true heart, and it shall lead you where the heart -has nothing left to desire!' So saying, the charming apparition knelt -at her feet, and again besought her to accept his devotion and become -mistress over all his life. - -'Ah! What can I do to make you happy?' she asked earnestly. - -'Only be grateful,' he answered, 'and do not believe all that your eyes -would tell you. Above all, do not abandon me until you have rescued me -from the cruel sufferings I endure.' - -With that the dream melted away, but only to be succeeded by another. -She found herself face to face with a stately and beautiful lady; and -the lady was speaking to her with dignity, yet most kindly. - -'Dear _Beauty_,' she said, 'do not grieve for what you have left -behind; a far higher destiny lies before you. Only, if you would -deserve it, beware of being misled by appearances.' - -_Beauty_ found her dreams so agreeable that she was in no hurry at all -to awake, and even when her eyes opened to the daylight she had more -than half a mind to close them again. But a clock, chiming out her own -name twelve times, warned her that it was midday and time to get up. -She rose, therefore, and found her dressing-table set out with brushes -and combs and everything she could want; and having dressed carefully, -and with a lightness of heart for which she found it hard to account, -she passed into the next room and found her dinner on the table. - -Dinner does not take very long when you are all by yourself. _Beauty_, -when she had eaten enough, sat down on a sofa and began to think of the -handsome youth she had seen in her dream. 'He told me I could make him -happy. Why, then, it must be that the horrible _Beast_, who appears to -be master here, is keeping him a prisoner. How can I set him free?... -They both warned me not to trust to appearances. It is all very -puzzling.... But one thing is clear at any rate, that I am very silly -to be vexing my head over a dream. I will forget all about it, and look -for something to do to amuse myself.' - -She sprang up, and started to make a tour of discovery through the many -rooms of the palace. They were even grander than she had expected. The -first she entered was lined with mirrors from floor to ceiling, where -she saw herself reflected on every side. The next thing to catch her -eye was a bracelet, hanging from one of the chandeliers. Set in the -bracelet was a gold locket, and opening this she was startled indeed; -for it contained a portrait in miniature of the gallant youth she had -seen in her dream. She could not be mistaken; so closely were his -features engraved on her memory--yes, and, it may be, on her heart. She -slipped the bracelet on her wrist, without stopping to think that it -did not belong to her, and went on to explore further. She passed into -a long picture gallery, and there again she met the _Prince's_ face. It -smiled down at her, this time from a life-sized portrait, and it seemed -to smile so wistfully that she caught herself blushing. - -From the gallery her steps had led her to a chamber filled with -instruments of music. _Beauty_ was an accomplished musician; so, -sitting down, she amused herself by tuning and trying over one -instrument after another; but she liked the harp best because that went -best with her voice. - -Leaving the music-room at length, she found herself in a long chamber -like the picture gallery, but lined with books. It held an immense -library; and _Beauty_, ever since she had lived in the country, had -been forced to do without reading, for her father had sold all his -books to pay his debts. Now, as her eyes travelled along the shelves, -she knew she need never have any fear that time would pass heavily -here. The dusk was gathering before she had half-studied even the -titles of the thousands of volumes; and numbers of candles, waxen and -scented, in chandeliers with lustres of diamonds and rubies, were -beginning to light themselves in every room. - -In due time _Beauty_ found supper laid and served for her, with the -same good taste and orderliness as before, and still she had seen no -living face. What did this matter? Her father had warned her that she -would be solitary; and she was beginning to tell herself that she could -be solitary here without much discomfort, when she heard the noise of -the _Beast_ approaching. She could not help trembling a little; for -she had not yet found herself alone with him, and knew not what would -happen--he might even be coming to devour her. But when he appeared he -did not seem at all ferocious. - -'Good evening, _Beauty_,' he said gruffly. - -'Good evening, _Beast_,' she answered gently, but shaking a little. - -'Do you think you can be content here?' he asked. - -_Beauty_ answered politely that it ought not to be hard to live happily -in such a beautiful palace. - -After this they talked for an hour, and in the course of their talk -_Beauty_ began to excuse many things in the _Beast_--his voice, for -example. With such a nose how could he help roaring through it? Really, -he appeared to be wanting in tact rather than purposely terrible; -though, to be sure, this want of tact terrified her cruelly, when at -length he blurted out:-- - -'Will you be my wife, _Beauty_?' - -'Ah! I am lost!' thought _Beauty_. The _Beast_ could not be so -dull-witted after all, for, though she kept the cry to herself, he -answered quickly, and just as if she had uttered it aloud:-- - -'Not at all. I wish you to answer just "yes" or "no."' - -'Oh! no, _Beast_.' - -'Very well, then,' said this tractable monster. 'Since you will not, I -had best be going. Good night, _Beauty_.' - -'Good night, _Beast_,' answered _Beauty_, relieved of her fright. She -felt sure now that he did not mean to hurt her, and as soon as he had -taken his leave she went off to bed, and was asleep in no time. - -But almost as quickly she was dreaming, and in her dream at once she -saw her unknown lover standing beside her, handsome as ever, but more -sorrowful than before. - -'Dear _Beauty_,' he said, 'why are you so cruel to me? I love you the -better for being so stubborn, and yet it lengthens out my misery.' - -She could not understand this at all. Her dream wavered and it seemed -to her that he took a hundred different shapes in it. Now he had a -crown between his hands and was offering it to her; now he was kneeling -at her feet; now he smiled, radiant with joy; and again he buried -his head in despair and wept till the sound of his sobbing pierced -her heart. Thus, in one aspect or another, he was with her the night -through. She awoke with him in her thoughts, and her first act was to -unclasp the locket on her wrist and assure herself that the miniature -was like him. It certainly was the same face, and his, too, was the -face that smiled down from the larger portrait in the gallery. But the -face in the locket gave her a more secret joy and she unclasped and -gazed on it again and again. - -This morning she went down into the gardens, where the sun shone -inviting her to ramble. They were beyond imagination lovely. Here stood -a statue showered over with roses; there fountain on fountain played -and threw a refreshing spray so high in the air that her eyes could -scarcely reach to its summit. But what most surprised her was that -every nook and corner recalled those she had seen in her dreams with -the unknown _Prince_ standing beside her. At length she came to the -long canal with the oranges and myrtles in the shade of which she had -first seen him approach. It was the very spot, and she could no longer -disbelieve that her dreams were real. She felt sure, now, that he must -somehow be imprisoned here, and resolved to get at the truth that very -evening, should the _Beast_ repeat his visit. - -Tired at length of wandering, she returned to the palace and -discovered a new room full of materials for work to engage the most -idle--tape-bags, distaffs and shuttles, frames for tapestry, ribbons to -make into bows, silks for embroidery, scissors, and thimbles. Beyond -this needlework room a door opened upon the most wonderful sight of -all--an aviary full of the rarest birds, yet all so tame that they flew -to _Beauty_, and perched themselves on her shoulders. - -'Dear birds,' she said, 'I wish you were closer to my own room, that I -might sit and hear you singing.' - -She had scarcely said it when, opening a door beyond the aviary, she -found herself in her own chamber--yes, her very own!--which she had -thought to be quite on the other side of the building. The door, -when she came to examine it, had a shutter which could be opened to -hear, and closed again when she grew tired of it. This aviary opened -on another inhabited by parrots, parroquets, and cockatoos. These no -sooner saw _Beauty_ than they began to scream and chatter; one wishing -her 'Good morning,' another inviting her to luncheon, while a third yet -more gallant cried 'Kiss me! Kiss me!' Others again whistled airs from -grand opera or declaimed pieces of poetry by the best authors. It was -plain that in their several ways they all had the same object--to amuse -her. - -Beyond the aviaries lay a monkey house. Here were apes of all -sorts--Barbary apes, mandarin apes, apes with blue faces, baboons, -marmosets, chimpanzees--and all came frisking about her, bowing and -scraping, to show how much they appreciated the honour of this visit. -To celebrate it they stretched a tight-rope and danced, and threw -somersaults with an agility which _Beauty_ found highly diverting; and -yet she could not help sighing that none of these animals were able to -tell her news of her unknown _Prince Charming_. She patted and made -much of them, however, and asked if some of them would be kind enough -to come with her and keep her company. - -At once, and as if they had only been waiting for this command, two -large she-apes in sweeping court-dresses stepped to her side and became -her maids of honour; two brisk little marmosets volunteered for pages -and held up her train; while an affable baboon, his face wreathed with -smiles, bowed, presented a gloved hand, and begged leave to squire her. -With this singular escort _Beauty_ marched back to luncheon, and while -she ate it the birds piped and fluted around her for accompaniment to -the parrots, who lifted up their voices and chanted the latest and most -fashionable tunes. Nay more; the meal was no sooner ended than the apes -begged her to allow them to entertain her with a light comedy; which -(leave being granted) they proceeded to act in a highly creditable -manner and with appropriate dumb-show, while the parrots spoke the -words from the wings very distinctly and in accents that exactly -conformed with the various parts. At the close one of the actors -advanced, laid his hand on his heart and--still with the parrot for -interpreter--thanked _Beauty_ for the indulgence she had shown to their -poor efforts. - -That night again, after supper, the _Beast_ paid her his accustomed -visit. He put the same questions, and received her answers as before; -and, as before, the conversation ended by his taking leave of her with -a 'Good night, _Beauty_.' The two she-apes, as ladies-in-waiting, -thereupon undressed their mistress and saw her to bed. Before -leaving they thoughtfully opened the window-shutter, that the soft -night-warbling of the birds might soothe her to sleep and dream of her -lover. - -In this fashion day followed day, and still _Beauty_ found plenty to -amuse her. At the end of a week she made the most wonderful discovery -of all. There was one large room which she had entered but once, -because it seemed to her rather dull, and dark too. It was empty; and -although it had four windows in each wall, but two of them admitted -any light. One day, as she passed the door, the fancy took her to open -one of these windows. She stepped in and drew the shutter, when to her -astonishment it opened, not upon daylight at all, but what seemed to be -a dim hall lit only by a glimmer, distant and faint, behind the chinks -of a thick curtain at the further end. She was wondering what this -might mean, when the curtain went up and in a sudden flood of light she -found herself gazing, as from a box, into a theatre crowded from floor -to ceiling, and with an audience brilliant in dresses and jewels. - -An orchestra played the overture, and gave place to the actors--real -actors this time, not apes and parrots. The play was charming, and -_Beauty_ in ecstasy with every scene of it. When the curtain fell -she still lingered in her box, hoping to see the fashionable crowd -disperse; but somewhat to her chagrin the lights went out almost at -once and the theatre was dark again. Still it had been very pleasant, -and she promised herself to become a constant playgoer. - -That evening when the _Beast_ paid his visit, she told him all about -the comedy. 'Eh? You like that sort of thing, do you?' asked the -monster. 'Well, you shall have as much of it as you like. You are -so pretty.' _Beauty_ could not help smiling inwardly at his clumsy -compliments. But she smiled no longer when he put to her once again his -blunt question:-- - -'_Beauty_, will you be my wife?' - -'No, _Beast_,' she answered as before; but she was really beginning to -get frightened, he was so gentle and so persistent. She sat up so long -thinking over this that it was almost daylight before she closed her -eyes in bed; and at once, as if impatient at being kept waiting, the -lover of her dreams presented himself. Perhaps for this reason he was -not in the best of tempers; at any rate he taxed her with being moody -and discontented. - -'I should be happy enough,' she answered, 'if the _Beast_ did not -pester me so. I--I almost think, by his foolish compliments, that he -would like me to marry him.' _Beauty_ expected her dream-lover to show -some jealousy at this; seeing that he merely stood glum, she went on, -'Would you really be content if I married him?... but alas! no; were he -as charming as he is hideous, you know that I love you and can never -love any one else.' By all rights the _Prince_ should have been in -raptures at this avowal; but all his answer was: 'Dearest, love him -who best loves you. Do not be led astray by appearances, and so you -will free me from captivity. 'This was not only puzzling; it seemed to -_Beauty_ to be just a little selfish. 'At least,' she said, 'tell me -what to do! Since liberty appears to be your first wish, believe me, I -would liberate you at any sacrifice, if only I knew how.' But this was -what she could never discover; and because of it her nights now, though -she longed for them, troubled her more than her days. - -Her days passed pleasantly enough, and still in fresh discoveries. One -by one in their turn she opened the windows of the great hall, and they -revealed:-- - -First, a grand performance of Opera; and she listened not to the -singers only, but to the murmur of the audience between the acts. To -listen to this and to gaze on human faces, gave her an inexpressible -pleasure. - -Next, a great Fair in progress. When first she looked the throng had -not arrived and she inspected the booths at leisure, with their various -wares. As the spectators drifted in, the drums began to beat, the hobby -horses to revolve, the showmen to shout, the marionettes to perform in -their little theatre. It was ravishing. - -After this she beheld a fashionable promenade, with a richly dressed -crowd passing, re-passing, exchanging good-days, remarking how superb -was the weather, and pausing to con and criticise the shop windows to -right and left. - -The next spectacle was a gaming-room, with the players seated at their -cards or roulette, the croupiers spinning the ball or raking the money. -_Beauty_, with nothing to stake, had leisure to observe their faces, -and how sadly some left the tables who had come smiling with money in -their pockets. She saw, too, that some were being cheated; and it vexed -her, because she could not warn them. - -Next, she was gazing at the Royal Palace, where the King and Queen were -holding a reception. She saw ambassadors with their wives, lords and -ladies and state counsellors; and watched them as they passed by the -throne making their lowest bows. - -A water picnic followed this. The boats lay moored alongside a bank -where the merry-makers sat or lounged and talked to the sound of lutes. - -The picnic ended in a ball, with violins playing and couples advancing -and retreating on the waxed floor that shone in the light of a thousand -candles. Oh, how _Beauty_ longed to be one of the dancers! - -But perhaps the last window gave her the most pleasure. For through -it she was able to see the whole world at one gaze and all that was -going on in it. State embassies, royal weddings, coronations, pageants, -armies, revolutions, sieges, pitched battles--she could sit at her ease -and watch them all, which was far more amusing than it is to read about -them in a newspaper. - -She ought, you will say, to have been happy as the day was long. -But no: a life becomes flat and stale which is a perpetual round of -pleasure and leaves nothing to sigh or to hope for. _Beauty_ began -to long for a sight of her father and her brothers and sisters. She -concealed this for a while, however, and turned her thoughts to what -was more pressing; for she could not beg leave to go home until -something had been done to rescue her dear Unknown and restore him to -liberty. The _Beast_ alone (she reflected) could tell her the secret; -and she thought to herself that, being himself so blunt of speech, -he would forgive some bluntness in her. So one evening she asked him -point-blank: '_Beast_, are we alone in this palace, with nobody but -ourselves?' - -'Of course we are,' he answered gruffly; but the question appeared in -some way to sting him, for almost at once he rose and bade her good -night. - -Now _Beauty_, whatever else she thought of the _Beast_, had by this -time learnt to trust him for honest. It was a dreadful disappointment, -therefore, to be forced to believe on his word that her _Prince -Charming_ had no existence outside of her fancy. She slept ill that -night. In her dream she was wandering again and sorrowfully alongside -the canal when her lover appeared and took her hands between his while -he scanned her face all bathed in tears. - -'What has gone wrong, dear _Beauty_?' he demanded. 'Why are you in this -distress?... Ah, it is the _Beast_ who persecutes you! But, never fear, -you shall be delivered here and now from his attention'--and with these -words the _Prince_ snatched out a dagger and rushed on the monster, -who now for the first time came into the dream, advancing slowly down -the bank of the canal. Strange to say, he offered no resistance even -when the dagger almost touched his throat. But _Beauty_, whom an unseen -power held back as she would have run to prevent the murder, on the -instant found voice to cry, 'Stay! Stay, rash fool! or kill me before -you kill him who has been my best friend!' 'Friend?' answered back -the _Prince_, still with his dagger lifted; 'and am I no more than -that?' 'You are an unfaithful one, at any rate,' persisted _Beauty_; -'if, knowing well that I would lay down my life for you, you would -take the life of one who has done me so much kindness. 'But while she -pleaded the figures wavered in her dream, still struggling together, -and vanished, giving place to the same stately lady she had seen in -her former vision. 'Courage, _Beauty_!' said this fresh phantom; 'your -happiness is not far off, if only you will go your own way and trust -not to appearances.' - -This dream left _Beauty_ so uneasy that next day she opened one window -after another to cure her restlessness; and, when this would not do, -all the windows together; but still in vain. That night, when the Beast -paid his usual visit, he detected almost at once that she had been -weeping, and demanded the reason. - -'Ah, sir,' said _Beauty_, 'if only I might go home!' - -'You wish to go home? 'The _Beast's_ face turned pale--which, for such -a face, was no easy matter. He staggered backwards with a deep sigh, -or rather, a roar of grief. 'Ah, _Beauty_, _Beauty_! Would you desert -a poor _Beast_? What more can I do to make you happy? Or is it because -you hate me, that you wish to be gone?' - -[Illustration: Ah! what a fright you have given me! she murmured.] - -'No, _Beast_,' answered _Beauty_ gently; 'I do not hate you, and I -should be very sorry never to see you again. But I do long to see my -own people. Let me go home for two months only, and I promise to come -back and stay with you for the rest of my life.' - -The _Beast_ had fallen flat and lay along the carpet at her feet. His -eyes were closed, and for some while his heavy sighs alone told her -that he was neither dead nor in a swoon. By and by he lifted his head:-- - -'I can deny you nothing,' he said sadly. 'But no matter, though it cost -me my life.... In the room next to your bedroom you will find four -chests: fill them with everything you would like to take with you. Be -sure to keep your word; for if you break it and come back to find your -poor _Beast_ dead, you will be sorry when it is too late. Come back -at the end of two months and you will find me alive; and to come back -you will not need chariot or horses. Only say good-bye, that night, to -your father, and brothers, and sisters; and, when you are in-bed, turn -this ring round on your finger and say firmly: "I wish to go back to my -palace and see my _Beast_ again." That is all. Good night, _Beauty!_ -Sleep soundly, and in good time you shall see your father once more.' - -As soon as he was gone _Beauty_ set to work to fill the four boxes with -all the riches and finery that heart could desire. She filled them to -the brim; and then, tired out, she went to bed. But for a long while -she could not close her eyes for excitement. It was not until close -upon sunrise that sleep visited her and, with it, another dream. In -this dream she saw her beloved Unknown stretched at full length on -a bank of turf. His face was hidden, and she could hear that he was -sobbing. But when, touched by the sight of his grief, she drew near to -console him, he lifted his face to her and said:-- - -'Cruel _Beauty_, how can you ask what ails me? when you are leaving me, -and your going is my death warrant!' - -'But, dearest _Prince_,' said _Beauty_, 'I am only going to tell -my father and brothers and sisters that I am well and happy. In a -short while I shall be back, never to leave you again.... But, for -that matter,' she went on as a new thought struck her, 'why should -we be separated at all? I will put off my going for another day, and -to-morrow I will beg the _Beast_ to let you go with me. I am sure he -will not refuse.' - -'I can only go with you, if you promise me never to come back,' replied -the _Prince_. 'And, after all, when you have once delivered me, why -should we ever come back? The _Beast_ will be hurt in his feelings and -very angry no doubt; but by that time we shall be beyond his power.' - -'You forget,' _Beauty_ reminded him sharply, 'that I have promised him -to return, and that, moreover, he says he will die of grief if I break -my word.' - -'And what if he does?' demanded her lover. 'Is not your happiness worth -more than the life of a monster? Of what use is he in the world except -to frighten folks out of their wits?' - -'Ah, you do not understand!' cried _Beauty_. 'This monster--as you call -him--is only a monster in his face, and through no fault of his. He has -the kindest heart in the world, and how could I be so ungrateful after -all he has done for me!' - -'I believe,' said her lover bitterly, 'that if you saw us fighting, of -the two you would rather let me perish than this _Beast_ of yours.' - -_Beauty_ told him that he was cruel and unjust, and begged him to talk -of something else. She set the example, too. Seeing that he was piqued -and proud, she addressed a long speech to him, full of endearments, to -win him back to a good humour, and was growing astonished at her own -eloquence when, in the middle of it, she awoke. - -Her last words seemed to mingle with the sound of familiar voices. -She sprang out of bed and drew her curtain.... It was very strange! -As the sunlight poured in she saw that she was in a room much more -poorly furnished than that in which she had fallen asleep. She dressed -in haste, and opening the door, found that the next room too was like -no apartment in the _Beast's_ palace. But at her feet stood the four -chests she had packed overnight; and, while she marvelled, again she -heard a voice talking, and ran towards it. For it was her father's. - -She rushed out and fell into his arms. He, poor man, stared at her -as though she had sprung from another world, and the others were no -less astonished. Her brothers embraced her with transports of joy, -while her sisters--who, to tell the truth, had not overcome their -jealousy--pretended to be quite as glad. They plied her with a thousand -questions, which she answered very good-naturedly, putting aside her -own impatience; for she too had a number of questions to ask. To begin -with, this house of theirs was not the cottage in which she had left -them, but a fine new one her father had been able to buy with the -_Beast's_ presents. If not wealthy, he was in easy circumstances; with -the bettering of their fortunes his sisters had found other wooers and -were soon to be married; and altogether _Beauty_ had the satisfaction -of knowing that she had at least brought prosperity back to her family. -'As for you, my dearest child,' said the merchant, 'when your sisters -are married, you shall keep house for your brothers and me, and so my -old age will be happy.' - -This was all very well, but _Beauty_ had to tell her father that she -must leave him again in two months' time; whereat he broke out into -lamentations. 'Dear father,' said the sensible girl, 'it is good of you -to weep; but it is useless, and I would rather have your advice, which -is sure to be useful.' Thereupon she told him all the story. Her father -considered for a while, and then said:-- - -'I can only give you the same counsel that, by your own admission, you -are always receiving from these phantoms of your dreams. "Do not trust -to appearance," they say, and "Be guided by your heart's gratitude"; -and they tell you this over and over again. What can it mean, child, -but one thing? The _Beast_, you say, is frightful. His appearance is -certainly against him. Then judge him rather by the gratitude which you -certainly owe him. It is plain that he has a good heart--"handsome is -as handsome does"--it is clear to me that these phantoms would have you -say "Yes" to the _Beast_, and I too advise you to consent.' - -_Beauty_ saw the wisdom of this and knew very well that her father -was counselling her for the best. Nevertheless it needed something -more than this to reconcile her with marrying a monster, and she -felt relieved at the thought that for two whole months she could put -off deciding. Strange to say, as the days went by and the time of -her departure drew nearer, she found herself looking forward to it -rather than repining. For one thing distressed her and spoilt all her -happiness--she never dreamed at all now. - -The days went by, and as they drew to an end her brothers and even her -father (forgetting his former good counsel) employed all persuasions to -hinder her departure. But her mind was made up; and when the two months -were passed she was resolute on everything but the hour of her parting. -Every morning, when she got up, she meant to say good-bye, but somehow -another night came and the farewells were still unspoken. - -She reproached herself (as well she might), and was still thus cruelly -torn between two minds, when one night a dream visited her--the first -for two months and more. - -She dreamed that she was back at the _Beast's_ palace, and wandering -by a lonely path in the gardens which ended in a tangle of brushwood -overhanging a cave. As she drew nearer she heard a terrible groaning, -and running in haste she found the _Beast_ stretched there on the point -of death. Still in her dream she was bending over him when the stately -lady stepped forth from the bushes and addressed her in a tone of grave -reproach:-- - -'I doubt, _Beauty_, if even now you have come in time. Cruel, cruel of -you to delay! when your delay has brought him so near to death!' - -Terrified by this dream _Beauty_ awoke in her bed with a start. 'I have -done wickedly!' she cried. 'Am I too late? Oh, indeed I hope not!' She -turned the ring upon her finger and said aloud in a firm voice: '_I -wish to go back to my palace and see my Beast again!_' - -With that she at once fell asleep, and only woke up to hear the clock -chiming, '_Beauty, Beauty,_' twelve times on the musical note she so -well remembered. She was back, then, at the palace. Yes, and--oh, -joy!--her faithful apes and parrots were gathered around the bed, -wishing her good morning! - -But none of them could tell her any news of the _Beast_. They were here -to serve her, and all their thoughts ended with their duty. Their good -master--the lord of this splendid palace--what was he to them? At any -rate nothing was to be learnt from them, and _Beauty_ was no sooner -dressed than she broke away impatiently, wandering through the house -and the gardens to fill up the time until evening should bring his -accustomed visit. But it was hard work filling up the time. She went -into the great hall and resolutely opened the windows one by one. The -shows were there as before; but opera and comedy, fête and pageant, -held no meaning for her: the players were listless, the music was null, -the processions passed before her eyes but had lost their power to -amuse. - -Supper-time came at length; but when after supper the minutes passed -and passed and still no _Beast_ appeared, then indeed _Beauty_ was -frightened. For a long while she waited, listened, told herself this -and that, and finally in a terror rushed down into the gardens to -seek for him. The alleys were dark; the bushes daunted her with their -black shadows; but still up and down ran poor _Beauty_, calling to the -_Beast_, and calling in vain. - -She was drenched with the dew, utterly lost and weary, when, after -three hours, pausing for a moment's rest, she saw before her the same -solitary path she had seen in her dream: and there in the moonlight she -almost stumbled over the _Beast_. - -He lay there, stretched at full length and asleep--or so she thought. -So glad was she to have found him that she knelt and stroked his head, -calling him by name over and over. But his flesh was cold beneath her -hand, nor did he move or open his eyes. - -'Ah, he is dead!' she cried, aghast. - -But she put a hand over his heart, and to her inexpressible joy she -felt that it was still beating. Hastily she ran to a fountain near by, -and dipping water into her palms from its basin she ran and sprinkled -it on his face, coaxing him with tender words as his eyes opened, and -slowly--very slowly--he came to himself. - -'Ah! what a fright you have given me!' she murmured. 'Dear _Beast_, -I never knew how I loved you until I feared that you were dead--yes, -dead, and through my fault! But I believe, if you had died, I should -have died too.' - -'_Beauty_,' said the _Beast_ faintly, 'you are very good if indeed -you can love such an ugly brute as I am. It is true that I was dying -for you, and should have died if you had not come. I thought you had -forsaken me. But are you sure?' - -'Sure of what?' asked _Beauty_. - -'That you love me?' - -'Let us go back to supper,' said _Beauty_, raising his head. - -'Yes, let us go back to supper, 'agreed the _Beast_, lifting himself -heavily on her arm. He still leaned on her, as they walked back to the -palace together. But the supper--which they found laid for two--seemed -to revive him, and in his old stupid way he asked her about the time -she had spent at home, and if her father and brothers and sisters had -been glad to see her. - -_Beauty_, though weary enough after her search through the park and -gardens, brisked herself up to tell of all that had happened to her in -her absence. The _Beast_ sat nodding his head and listening in his old -dull way--which somehow seemed to her the most comfortable way in the -world. At length he rose to go. But at the doorway he put the old blunt -question. - -'_Beauty_, will you marry me?' - -'Yes, dear _Beast_,' said _Beauty_; and as she said it a blaze of light -filled the room. A salvo of artillery sounded, a moment later, from -the park. Bang, bang! fireworks shot across the windows of the palace; -sky rockets and Roman candles exploded and a magnificent set-piece -wrote across the darkness in letters of fire--'LONG LIVE BEAUTY AND THE -BEAST!' - -_Beauty_ turned to ask what all these rejoicings might mean; and, with -that, she gave a cry. The _Beast_ had vanished, and in his place stood -the beloved _Prince_ of her dreams! He smiled and stretched out his -hands to her. Scarcely knowing what she did, she was stretching hers, -to take them, when above the banging of fireworks in the avenues there -sounded a rolling of wheels. It drew to the porch, and presently there -entered the stately lady she had seen in her dreams. It was the very -same; and, all astounded as she was, _Beauty_ did reverence to her. - -But the stately lady was as eager to do reverence to _Beauty_. 'Best -and dearest,' said she, 'my son is going to love you always; as how -should he not, seeing that by your courage you have rescued him from -the enchantment under which he has lain so long, and have restored him -to his natural form? But suffer also his mother, a Queen, to bless you!' - -_Beauty_ turned again to her lover and saw that he, who had been a -_Beast_, was indeed the _Prince_ of her dreams and handsomer than the -day. So they were married and lived happy ever after; nay, so happy -were they that all over the world folks told one another and set down -in writing this wonderful history of _Beauty and the Beast_. - - - MORAL - - _Maidens, from this tale of_ Beauty - _Learn, and in your memory write--_ - _Daily leads a Path of Duty_ - _Through the Garden of Delight;_ - _Where the loveliest roses wear_ - _Daunting thorns, for you to dare._ - - ANOTHER - - _Many shy, unhappy creatures_ - _From the covert watch your mirth:_ - _'Foul are we,' they mourn; 'our features_ - _Blot the sun, deform the earth.'_ - _Pity, love them, speak them fair;_ - _Half their woe ye may repair._ - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sleeping Beauty and other fairy -tales, by Arthur Quiller-Couch and Charles Perrault - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SLEEPING BEAUTY, OTHER FAIRY TALES *** - -***** This file should be named 51275-8.txt or 51275-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/2/7/51275/ - -Produced by Madeleine Fournier. 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margin-left: 8em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} -.poem span.i17 {display: block; margin-left: 8.5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} -.poem span.i18 {display: block; margin-left: 9em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} -.poem span.i19 {display: block; margin-left: 9.5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} -.poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} -.poem span.i3 {display: block; margin-left: 1.5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} -.poem span.i9 {display: block; margin-left: 4.5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} - -/* end of index */ - - </style> - </head> - -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sleeping Beauty and other fairy tales, by -Arthur Quiller-Couch and Charles Perrault - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Sleeping Beauty and other fairy tales - -Author: Arthur Quiller-Couch - Charles Perrault - -Illustrator: Edmund Dulac - -Release Date: February 21, 2016 [EBook #51275] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SLEEPING BEAUTY, OTHER FAIRY TALES *** - - - - -Produced by Madeleine Fournier. Images from The Internet Archive. - - - - - -</pre> - -<div class="cover"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="transnote"> -<p>Transcriber's Note: You can click on the plates to display a larger version.</p> -<p>One plate is missing from The Internet Archive images. No suitable copy could be found. -It was decided to publish without it.</p> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a id="pl01"></a> -<a href="images/large_pl01.jpg"><img src="images/pl01.jpg" width="600" height="736" alt="The Slepping Beauty" /></a> -</div> - -<p class="caption">And there, on a bed the curtains of which were drawn -wide, he beheld the loveliest vision he had ever seen.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/tp.jpg" width="450" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h1>The Sleeping Beauty -and other fairy tales</h1> - -<p class="edition"><span class="smcap">From the Old French</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/h01.jpg" width="450" height="256" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="author"><span style="font-size:smaller;">retold by</span> -Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch<br /><br /> - -<span style="font-size:smaller;">illustrated by</span> -Edmund Dulac</p> - -<p class="editor"><span class="smcap">New York</span><br /><br /> -HODDER <span class="smcap">and</span> STOUGHTON</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<h2>CONTENT</h2> - -<p><a href="#PREFACE">PREFACE</a></p> -<p><a href="#ILLUSTRATIONS">ILLUSTRATIONS</a></p> -<p><a href="#THE_SLEEPING_BEAUTY">THE SLEEPING BEAUTY</a></p> -<p><a href="#BLUE_BEARD">BLUE BEARD</a></p> -<p><a href="#CINDERELLA">CINDERELLA</a></p> -<p><a href="#BEAUTY">BEAUTY AND THE BEAST</a></p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/h01.jpg" width="450" height="256" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2><a id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE</h2> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/line450.jpg" width="450" height="45" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>Once upon a time I found myself halting -between two projects, both magnificent. -For the first, indeed—which was to discover, digest -and edit all the fairy tales in the world—I was -equipped neither with learning, nor with command -of languages, nor with leisure, nor with length of -years. It is a task for many men, clubbing their -lifetimes together. But the second would have cost -me quite a respectable amount of toil; for it was -to translate and annotate the whole collection of -stories in the <i>Cabinet des Fées.</i></p> - -<p>Now the <i>Cabinet des Fées</i>, in the copy on my -shelves, extends to forty-one volumes, printed, as -their title-pages tell, at Geneva between the years -1785 and 1789, and published in Paris by M. -Cuchet, Rue et Hôtel Serpente. The dates may -set us moralising. While the Rue Serpente unfolded, -as though</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Tranquilla per alta,</i><br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p>its playful voluminous coils, the throne of France -with the Ancien Régime rocked closer and closer -to catastrophe. In 1789 (July), just as M. Cuchet -(good man and leisurable to the end) wound up -his series with a last volume of the <i>Suite des Mille -et Un Nuits</i>, they toppled over with the fall of -the Bastille.</p> - -<p>Even so in England—we may remind ourselves—in -1653, when the gods made Oliver Cromwell -Protector, Izaak Walton chose to publish a book -about little fishes. But the reminder is not quite -apposite: for angling, the contemplative man's -recreation, was no favourite or characteristic or -symbolical pursuit of the Order which Cromwell -overthrew (and, besides, he did not overthrow it); -whereas, M. Cuchet's forty-one volumes most pertinently -as well as amply illustrated some real -qualities, and those the most amiable of the -Ancien Régime. When we think of the French -upper classes from the days of Louis <span class="smcap">xiv.</span> to the -Revolution, we associate them with a certain elegance, -a taste fastidious and polite, if artificial, in -the arts of living and the furniture of life; and in -this we do them justice. But, if I mistake not, we -seldom credit them with the quality which more -than any other struck the contemporary foreign -observer who visited France with a candid mind—I -mean their good temper. We allow the Bastille -or the guillotine to cast their shadows backward -over this period, or we see it distorted in the glare -of Burke's rhetoric or of Carlyle's lurid and fuliginous -history. But if we go to an eyewitness, Arthur -Young, who simply reported what he saw, having -no rhetorical axe to grind or guillotine to sharpen, -we get a totally different impression. The last of -Young's <i>Travels in France</i> (1787–1789) actually -coincided with the close of M. Cuchet's pleasant -enterprise in publishing; and I do not think -it fanciful to suppose that, had this very practical -Englishman found time to read at large in the -<i>Cabinet des Fées</i>, he would have discovered therein -much to corroborate the evidence steadily and -unconsciously borne by his own journals—that the -urbanity of life among the French upper classes -was genuine, reflecting a real and (for a whole -society) a remarkable sunniness of disposition. -Unconscious of their doom, the little victims played. -But they did play; and they fell victims, not to -their own passions, but to a form of government -economically rotten.</p> - -<p>Of all the volumes in the <i>Cabinet</i>, possibly the -most famous are the first and second, containing the -fairy tales of Charles Perrault and Madame d'Aulnoy, -and vols. 7–11, containing M. Galland's version (so -much better than any translation) of <i>The Arabian -Nights</i>. I hope that one of those days Mr. Dulac -will lay the public under debt by illustrating all -these, and the stories of Antony Hamilton to boot. -Meanwhile, here are three of the most famous tales -from Perrault's wallet, and one, the evergreen -<i>Beauty and the Beast</i>, by an almost forgotten -authoress, Madame de Villeneuve.</p> - -<p>The ghost of Charles Perrault, could it walk -to-day—<i>perruque</i> and all—might well sigh over -the vanity of human pretensions. For Monsieur -Perrault was a person of importance in his lifetime -(1628–1703), and a big-wig in every sense -of the term. Colbert made him Secretary of the -Academy of Inscriptions, and anon Controller of -Public Works—in which capacity he suggested to -his architect-brother, Claude Perrault, the facade -of the Louvre with its renowned colonnade. He -flattered his monarch with a poem <i>Le Siècle de -Louis le Grand</i>. 'Je ne sais,' observes a circle, -'si ce roi, malgré son amour excessif pour la -flatterie, fut content: les bornes étaient outre-passées.' -The poem, as a poem, had little success; -but by positing that the Age of Louis was the -greatest in history, and suggesting that the moderns -were as good as the ancients or better, it started a -famous controversy. Boileau, Racine, La Bruyère, -honoured him by taking the other side, and forced -him to develop his paradox in a book of dialogues, -<i>Parallèles des Anciens et des Modernes</i>. But his -best answer was his urbane remark (for he kept his -temper admirably) that these gentlemen did ill to -dispute the superiority of the moderns while their -own works gave proof of it. He wrote other -poems, other tractates (including one on the 'Illustrious -Men of his Age'), besides occasional tracts -on matters of high politics: and his memory is -kept alive by one small packet of fairy-tales—stories -which he heard the nurse telling his little boy, and -set down upon paper for a recreation! That is the -way with literary fame. To take an English example: -it is odds that Southey, poet-laureate and -politician of great self-importance in his day, will -come finally to be remembered by his baby-story -of <i>The Three Bears</i>. It will certainly outlive -<i>Thalaba the Destroyer</i>, and possibly even the <i>Life -of Nelson</i>.</p> - -<p>As for Gabrielle Susanne, wife of M. de Gallon, -Seigneur de Villeneuve and lieutenant-colonel of -infantry (whom she outlived), she wrote a number -of romantic stories—<i>Le Phénix Conjugal, Le Juge -Parvenu, Le Beau-Frère Supposé, La Jardinière -de Vincennes, Le Prince Azerolles</i>, etc. I am not—perhaps -few are—acquainted with these works. -Madame de Villeneuve died in 1755 and lives only -by grace of her <i>La Belle et La Bête</i>; and that -again lives in despite of its literary defects. It has -style; but the style inheres neither in its language, -which is loose, nor in its construction. The story, -as she wrote it, tails off woefully and drags to an -end in mere foolishness.</p> - -<p>Since Perrault, who is usually accepted as the -fountainhead of these charming French fairy-stories, -belongs almost entirely to the seventeenth century, -it may be asked why Mr. Dulac has chosen to -depict his Princes and Princess in costumes of the -eighteenth? Well, for my part, I hold that he -has obeyed a just instinct in choosing the period -when the literature he illustrates was at the acme -of its vogue. But his designs, in every stroke of -which the style of that period is so unerringly felt, -provide his best apology.</p> - -<p>My own share in this volume is, perhaps, less -easily defended. I began by translating Perrault's -tales, very nearly word for word; because to me -his style has always seemed nearly perfect for its -purpose; and the essence of 'style' in writing is -propriety to its purpose. On the other hand the -late M. Ferdinand Brunetière has said that Perrault's -is 'devoid of charm,' and on this subject M. -Brunetière's opinion must needs out-value mine -ten times over. Certainly the translations, when -finished, did not satisfy me, and so I turned back -to the beginning and have rewritten the stories in -my own way, which (as you may say with the Irish -butler) 'may not be the best claret, but 'tis the best -ye've got.'</p> - -<p>I have made bold, too, to omit Perrault's conclusion -of <i>La Belle au Bois Dormant</i>. To my -amazement the editor of the <i>Cabinet des Fées</i> -selects this lame sequel—it is no better than a -sequel—of a lovely tale, and assigns to it the -credit of having established 'la véritable fortune -de ce genre.' Frankly, I cannot believe him. -Further, I have condensed Madame de Villeneuve's -narrative and obliterated its feeble ending. In -taking each of these liberties I have the warrant -of tradition, which in the treatment of fairy-tales -speaks with a voice more authoritative than the -original author's, for it speaks with the united voices -of many thousands of children, his audience and -best critics. As the children have decreed that in -Southey's tale of <i>The Three Bears</i> the heroine shall -be a little girl, and not, as Southey invented her, -a good-for-nothing old woman, so they have -decreed the story of <i>The Sleeping Beauty</i> to end -with the Prince's kiss, and that of <i>Beauty and the -Beast</i> with the Beast's transformation. And as -<i>Beauty and the Beast</i> is really but a variant of -the immortal fable of <i>Cupid and Psyche</i>, I might—had -I room to spare—attempt to prove to -you that the children's taste is here, as usually, -right and classical.</p> - -<p class="signature">ARTHUR QUILLER-COUCH</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/line450.jpg" width="450" height="45" alt="" /> -</div> -<h2><a id="ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/line450.jpg" width="450" height="45" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<table class="toc"> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="tdc"><h3>THE SLEEPING BEAUTY</h3></td></tr> -<tr><td><i>And there, on a bed the curtains of which were drawn -wide, he beheld the loveliest vision he had ever -seen</i> (<a href="#Page_20">20</a>)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#pl01">Frontispiece</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><i>Her head nodded with spite and old age together, as she -bent over the cradle</i> (<a href="#Page_5">5</a>)</td><td class="tdr">7</td></tr> - -<tr><td><i>They grew until nothing but the tops of the castle towers -could be seen</i> (<a href="#Page_15">15</a>)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#pl03">17</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="tdc"> -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> -<img src="images/img01.jpg" width="150" height="155" alt="" /> -</div> -</td></tr> -<tr><td colspan="2" class="tdc"><h3>BLUE BEARD</h3></td></tr> - -<tr><td><i>They overran the house without loss of time</i> (<a href="#Page_34">34</a>)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#pl04">35</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><i>The unhappy</i> Fatima <i>cried up to her</i>, 'Anne, sister -Anne, do you see any one coming? (<a href="#Page_42">42</a>)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#pl05">41</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><i>Then</i> Blue Beard <i>roared out so terribly that he made the -whole house tremble</i> (<a href="#Page_44">44</a>)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#pl06">45</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="tdc"> -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> -<img src="images/img02.jpg" width="150" height="166" alt="" /> -</div> -</td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="tdc"><h3>CINDERELLA</h3></td></tr> - -<tr><td><i>She used to creep away to the chimney-corner and seat -herself among the cinders</i> (<a href="#Page_49">49</a>)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#pl07">51</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><i>Whereupon she instantly desired her partner to lead her -to the</i> King <i>and</i> Queen (<a href="#Page_61">61</a>)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#pl08">63</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><i>The Prime Minister was kept very busy during the next -few weeks</i> (<a href="#Page_70">70</a>)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#pl09">71</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="tdc"> -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> -<img src="images/img03.jpg" width="150" height="166" alt="" /> -</div> -</td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="tdc"><h3>BEAUTY AND THE BEAST</h3></td></tr> - -<tr><td><i>He had been fasting for more than twenty four hours, and -lost no time in falling-to</i> (<a href="#Page_80">80</a>)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#pl10">81</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><i>Soon they caught sight of the castle in the distance</i> (<a href="#Page_91">91</a>)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#pl11">91</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><i>'Ah! what a fright you have given me!' she murmured</i> (<a href="#Page_126">126</a>)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#pl12">117</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/h02.jpg" width="450" height="234" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<h2><a id="THE_SLEEPING_BEAUTY"></a>THE SLEEPING BEAUTY</h2> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/line450.jpg" width="450" height="45" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>Once upon a time there lived a King and a -Queen, who lacked but one thing on earth -to make them entirely happy. The <i>King</i> was -young, handsome, and wealthy; the <i>Queen</i> had -a nature as good and gentle as her face was -beautiful; and they adored one another, having -married for love—which among kings and queens -is not always the rule. Moreover, they reigned over -a kingdom at peace, and their people were devoted to -them. What more, then, could they possibly want?</p> - -<p>Well, they wanted one thing very badly, and -the lack of it grieved them more than words can -tell. They had no child. Vows, pilgrimages, all -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>ways were tried; yet for a long while nothing came -of it all, and the poor <i>Queen</i> especially was in despair.</p> - -<p>At last, however, to her own and her husband's -inexpressible joy, she gave birth to a daughter. As -soon as the palace guns announced this event, the -whole nation went wild with delight. Flags waved -everywhere, bells were set pealing until the steeples -rocked, crowds tossed up their hats and cheered, -while the soldiers presented arms, and even -strangers meeting in the street fell upon each other's -neck, exclaiming: 'Our <i>Queen</i> has a daughter! -Yes, yes—Our <i>Queen</i> has a daughter! Long live -the little <i>Princess</i>!'</p> - -<p>A name had now to be found for the royal -babe; and the <i>King</i> and <i>Queen</i>, after talking over -some scores of names, at length decided to call her -<i>Aurora</i>, which means <i>The Dawn</i>. The Dawn -itself (thought they) was never more beautiful than -this darling of theirs. The next business, of course, -was to hold a christening. They agreed that it -must be a magnificent one; and as a first step they -invited all the Fairies they could find in the land to -be godmothers to the <i>Princess Aurora</i>, that each -one of them might bring her a gift, as was the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>custom with Fairies in those days, and so she might -have all the perfections imaginable. After making -long inquiries—for I should tell you that all this -happened not so many hundred years ago, when -Fairies were already growing somewhat scarce—they -found seven. But this again pleased them, because -seven is a lucky number.</p> - -<p>After the ceremonies of the christening, while -the trumpeters sounded their fanfares and the guns -boomed out again from the great tower, all the -company returned to the Royal Palace to find a -great feast arrayed. Seats of honour had been set -for the seven fairy godmothers, and before each was -laid a dish of honour, with a dish-cover of solid -gold, and beside the dish a spoon, a knife, and a -fork, all of pure gold and all set with diamonds and -rubies. But just as they were seating themselves at -table, to the dismay of every one there appeared in -the doorway an old crone, dressed in black and -leaning on a crutched stick. Her chin and her -hooked nose almost met together, like a pair of -nut-crackers, for she had very few teeth remaining; -but between them she growled to the guests in a -terrible voice:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>'I am the Fairy <i>Uglyane</i>! Pray where are -your King's manners, that I have not been invited?'</p> - -<p>She had in fact been overlooked; and this was -not surprising, because she lived at the far end of -the country, in a lonely tower set around by the forest. -For fifty years she had never come out of this tower, -and every one believed her to be dead or enchanted. -That, you must know, is the commonest way the -Fairies have of ending: they lock themselves up in -a tower or within a hollow oak, and are never seen -again.</p> - -<p>The <i>King</i>, though she chose to accuse his -manners, was in fact the politest of men. He -hurried to express his regrets, led her to table with -his own hand, and ordered a dish to be set for her; -but with the best will in the world he could not -give her a dish-cover such as the others had, because -seven only had been made for the seven invited -Fairies. The old crone received his excuses very -ungraciously, while accepting a seat. It was plain -that she had taken deep offence. One of the -younger Fairies, <i>Hippolyta</i> by name, who sat by, -overheard her mumbling threats between her teeth; -and fearing she might bestow some unlucky gift -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span>upon the little <i>Princess</i>, went as soon as she rose -from table and hid herself close by the cradle, -behind the tapestry, that she might have the last -word and undo, so far as she could, what evil the -Fairy <i>Uglyane</i> might have in her mind.</p> - -<p>She had scarcely concealed herself before the -other Fairies began to advance, one by one, to -bestow their gifts on the <i>Princess</i>. The youngest -promised her that she should be the most beautiful -creature in the world; the next, that she should -have the wit of an angel; the third, a marvellous -grace in all her ways; the fourth, that she should -dance to perfection; the fifth, that she should sing -like a nightingale; the sixth, that she should play -exquisitely on all instruments of music.</p> - -<p>Now came the turn of the old Fairy <i>Uglyane</i>. -Her head nodded with spite and old age together, -as she bent over the cradle and shook her -crutched staff above the head of the pretty babe, -who slept on sweetly, too young and too innocent -as yet to dream of any such thing as mischief in -this world.</p> - -<p>'This is my gift to you, <i>Princess Aurora</i>,' -announced the hag, still in her creaking voice that -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>shook as spitefully as her body. 'I promise that -one day you shall pierce your hand with a spindle, -and on that day you shall surely die!'</p> - -<p>At these terrible words the poor <i>Queen</i> fell back -fainting into her husband's arms. A trembling -seized the whole Court; the ladies were in tears, -and the younger lords and knights were calling out -to seize and burn the wicked witch, when the -young Fairy stepped forth from behind the tapestry, -and passing by <i>Uglyane</i>, who stood scornful in -the midst of this outcry, she thus addressed their -Majesties:</p> - -<p>'Take comfort, O <i>King</i> and <i>Queen</i>: your -daughter shall not die thus. It is true, I have not -the power wholly to undo what this elder sister of -mine has done. The <i>Princess</i> must indeed pierce -her hand with a spindle; but, instead of dying, -she shall only fall into a deep slumber that shall -last for many, many years, at the end of which -a King's son shall come and awake her. Whenever -this misfortune happens to your little <i>Aurora</i>, -do not doubt that I, the Fairy <i>Hippolyta</i>, her godmother, -shall get news of it and come at once to -render what help I may.'</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p class="caption">Her head nodded with spite and old age together, as she -bent over the cradle.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>The <i>King</i>, while declaring himself infinitely -obliged to the good Fairy <i>Hippolyta</i>, could not help -feeling that hers was but cold comfort at the best. -He gave orders to close the christening festivities -at once, although the Fairy <i>Uglyane</i>, their spoil-joy, -had already taken her departure; passing unharmed -through the crowd of folk, every one of whom -wished her ill, and riding away—it was generally -agreed-upon a broomstick.</p> - -<p>To satisfy the <i>King's</i> faithful subjects, however,—who -were unaware of any misadventure—the palace -fireworks were duly let off, with a grand set-piece -wishing <i>Long Life to the Princess Aurora!</i> in all -the colours of the rainbow. But His Majesty, after -bowing from the balcony amid the banging of rockets -and hissing of Catherine wheels, retired to a private -room with his Chamberlain, and there, still amid -the noise of explosions and cheering, drew up the -first harsh proclamation of his reign. It forbade -every one, on pain of death, to use a spindle in -spinning or even to have a spindle in his house. -Heralds took copies of this proclamation and -marched through the land reading it, to the sound -of trumpets, from every market-place: and it gravely -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>puzzled and distressed all who listened, for their -women folk prided themselves on their linen. Its -fineness was a byword throughout the neighbouring -kingdoms, and they knew themselves to be famous -for it. 'But what sort of linen,' said they, 'would -His Majesty have us spin without spindles?'</p> - -<p>They had a great affection, however (as we have -seen), for their monarch; and for fifteen or sixteen -years all the spinning-wheels were silent throughout -the land. The little <i>Princess Aurora</i> grew up without -ever having seen one. But one day—the <i>King</i> -and <i>Queen</i> being absent at one of their country houses—she -gave her governess the slip, and running at will -through the palace and upstairs from one chamber -to another, she came at length to a turret with -a winding staircase, from the top of which a strange -whirring sound attracted her and seemed to invite -her to climb. As she mounted after the sound, -on a sudden it ceased; but still she followed the -stairs and came, at the very top, to an open door -through which she looked in upon a small garret -where sat an honest old woman alone, winding her -distaff. The good soul had never, in sixteen years, -heard of the <i>King's</i> prohibition against spindles; -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>and this is just the sort of thing that happens in -palaces.</p> - -<p>'What are you doing, goody?' asked the -<i>Princess</i>.</p> - -<p>'I am spinning, pretty one,' answered the old -woman, who did not know who she was.</p> - -<p>'Spinning? What is that?'</p> - -<p>'I wonder sometimes,' said the old woman, 'what -the world is coming to, in these days!' And that, -of course, was natural enough, and might occur to -anybody after living so long as she had lived in a -garret on the top of a tower. 'Spinning,' she said -wisely, 'is spinning, or was; and, gentle or simple, -no one is fit to keep house until she has learnt to -spin.'</p> - -<p>'But how pretty it is!' said the <i>Princess</i>. -'How do you do it? Give it to me and let me -see if I can do so well.'</p> - -<p>She had no sooner grasped the spindle—she -was over-eager perhaps, or just a little bit clumsy, -or maybe the fairy decree had so ordained it—than -it pierced her hand and she dropped down in -a swoon.</p> - -<p>The old trot in a flurry ran to the head of the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>stairs and called for help. There was no bell rope, -and, her voice being weak with age and her turret -in the remotest corner of the palace, it was long -before any one heard her in the servants' hall. The -servants, too—in the absence of the <i>King</i> and -<i>Queen</i>—were playing cards, and could not be interrupted -by anybody until their game was finished. -Then they sat down and discussed whose business -it was to attend on a call from that particular turret; -and this again proved to be a nice point, since nobody -could remember having been summoned thither, -and all were against setting up a precedent (as they -called it). In the end they decided to send up the -lowest of the junior page-boys. But he had a weakness -which he somehow forgot to mention—that of -fainting at the sight of blood. So when he reached -the garret and fainted, the old woman had to begin -screaming over again.</p> - -<p>This time they sent up a scullery maid; who, -being good-natured and unused to the ways of the -palace, made the best haste she could to the garret, -whence presently she returned with the terrible -news. The servants, who had gone back to their -game, now dropped their cards and came running. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>All the household, in fact, came pouring up the -turret stairs; the palace physicians themselves -crowding in such numbers that the poor <i>Princess -Aurora</i> would have been hard put to it for fresh -air could fresh air have restored her. They dashed -water on her face, unlaced her, slapped her hands, -tickled the soles of her feet, burned feathers under -her nose, rubbed her temples with Hungary-water. -They held consultations over her, by twos and -threes, and again in Grand Committee. But nothing -would bring her to.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, a messenger had ridden off posthaste -with the tidings, and while the doctors were -still consulting and shaking their heads the <i>King</i> -himself came galloping home to the palace. In -the midst of his grief he bethought him of what the -Fairies had foretold; and being persuaded that, -since they had said it, this was fated to happen, he -blamed no one but gave orders to carry the <i>Princess</i> -to the finest apartment in the palace, and there lay -her on a bed embroidered with gold and silver.</p> - -<p>At sight of her, she was so lovely, you might -well have supposed that some bright being of the -skies had floated down to earth and there dropped -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>asleep after her long journey. For her swoon had -not taken away the warm tints of her complexion: -her cheeks were like carnations, her lips like coral: -and though her eyes were closed and the long lashes -would not lift, her soft breathing told that she was -not dead. The <i>King</i> commanded them all to leave -her and let her sleep in peace until the hour of her -awakening should arrive.</p> - -<p>Now when the accident befell our <i>Princess</i> the -good Fairy <i>Hippolyta</i>, who had saved her life, -happened to be in the Kingdom of Mataquin, -twelve thousand leagues away; but news of it was -brought to her in an incredibly short space of time -by a little dwarf who owned a pair of seven-league -boots. (These were boots in which you could -walk seven leagues at a single stride.) She set -off at once to the help of her beloved goddaughter, -and behold in an hour this good Fairy -arrived at the palace, in a fiery chariot drawn by -dragons.</p> - -<p>Our <i>King</i> met her and handed her down from -the chariot. She approved of all that he had done; -but, greatly foreseeing as she was, she bethought -her that, as all mortals perish within a hundred -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>years or so, when the time came for the <i>Princess</i> -to awake she would be distressed at finding herself -orphaned and alone in this old castle.</p> - -<p>So this is what she did. She touched with her -wand everything and everybody in the palace: the -<i>King</i>, the <i>Queen</i>; the ministers and privy councillors; -the archbishop (who was the Grand -Almoner), the bishops and the minor clergy; the -maids-of-honour, ladies of the bedchamber, governesses, -gentlemen-in-waiting, equerries, heralds, -physicians, officers, masters of the household, cooks, -scullions, lackeys, guards, Switzers, pages, footmen. -She touched the <i>Princess's</i> tutors and the Court -professors in the midst of their deep studies. She -touched likewise all the horses in the stables, with -the grooms; the huge mastiffs in the yard; even -<i>Tiny</i>, the <i>Princess's</i> little pet dog, and <i>Fluff</i>, her -black-and-white cat, that lay coiled on a cushion -by her bedside.</p> - -<p>The instant the Fairy <i>Hippolyta</i> touched them -they all fell asleep, not to awake until the same -moment as their mistress, that all might be ready -to wait on her when she needed them. The very -spits at the fire went to sleep, loaded as they were -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>with partridges and pheasants; and the fire went to -sleep too. All this was done in a moment: the -Fairies were never long about their business in -those days.</p> - -<p>But it so happened that one of the <i>King's</i> -councillors, the Minister of Marine (his office -dated from a previous reign when the kingdom had -hoped to conquer and acquire a seaboard) had -overslept himself that morning and came late to the -palace without any knowledge of what had befallen. -He felt no great fear that his unpunctuality would -be remarked, the <i>King</i> (as he supposed) being -absent in the country; nevertheless he took the -precaution of letting himself in by a small postern -door, and so missed being observed by the Fairy -and touched by her wand. Entering his office, -and perceiving that his under-secretary (usually so -brisk) and all his clerks rested their heads on their -desks in attitudes of sleep, he drew the conclusion -that something had happened, for he was an excellent -judge of natural slumber. The farther he -penetrated into the palace, the stronger his suspicions -became. He withdrew on tiptoe. Though -by nature and habit a lazy man, he was capable of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>sudden decision, and returning to his home he -caused notices to be posted up, forbidding any one -to approach the castle, the inmates of which were -suffering from an Eastern but temporary affliction -known as the Sleeping Sickness.</p> - -<p>These notices were unnecessary, for within -a few hours there grew up, all around the park, -such a number of trees of all sizes, and such a -tangle of briars and undergrowth, that neither beast -nor man could find a passage. They grew until -nothing but the tops of the castle towers could be -seen, and these only from a good way off. There -was no mistake about it: the Fairy had done her -work well, and the <i>Princess</i> might sleep with no -fear of visits from the inquisitive.</p> - -<p>One day, many, many years afterwards, the -incomparable young <i>Prince Florimond</i> happened -to ride a-hunting on that side of the country -which lay next to the tangled forest, and asked: -'What were those towers he saw pushing up -above the midst of a great thick wood? '</p> - -<p>They all answered him as they heard tell. -Some said it was an old castle haunted by -ghosts.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>Others, that all the wizards and witches of the -country met there to keep Sabbath.</p> - -<p>The most general opinion was that an Ogre -dwelt there, and that he carried off thither all the -children he could catch, to eat them at his ease. -No one could follow him, for he alone knew how -to find a passage through the briars and brambles. -The <i>Prince</i> could not tell which to believe of all -these informants, for all gave their versions with -equal confidence, as commonly happens with those -who talk on matters of which they can know -nothing for certain. He was turning from one to -another in perplexity, when a peasant spoke up -and said:—</p> - -<p>'Your Highness, long ago I heard my father -tell that there was in yonder castle a Princess, -the most beautiful that ever man saw; that she -must lie asleep there for many, many years; and -that one day she will be awakened by a King's son, -for whom she was destined.'</p> - -<p>At these words Prince <i>Florimond</i> felt himself -a-fire. He believed, without weighing it, that he -could accomplish this fine adventure; and, spurred -on by love and ambition, he resolved to explore -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>then and there and discover the truth for himself.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a id="pl03"></a> -<a href="images/large_pl03.jpg"><img src="images/pl03.jpg" width="600" height="738" alt="" /></a> -</div> -<p class="caption">They grew until nothing but the tops of the -castle towers could be seen.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>Leaping down from his horse he started to run -towards the wood, and had almost reached the edge -of it before the attendant courtiers guessed his -design. They called to him to come back, but he -ran on, and was about to fling himself boldly into -the undergrowth, when as by magic all the great -trees, the shrubs, the creepers, the ivies, briars and -brambles, unlaced themselves of their own accord -and drew aside to let him pass. He found himself -within a long glade or avenue, at the end of which -glimmered the walls of an old castle; and towards -this he strode. It surprised him somewhat that -none of his attendants were following him; the -reason being that as soon as he had passed through -it, the undergrowth drew close as ever again. He -heard their voices, fainter and fainter behind him, -beyond the barrier, calling, beseeching him to -desist. But he held on his way without one backward -look. He was a Prince, and young, and -therefore valiant.</p> - -<p>He came to the castle, and pushing aside the -ivies that hung like a curtain over the gateway, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>entered a wide outer court and stood still for a -moment, holding his breath, while his eyes travelled -over a scene that might well have frozen them with -terror. The court was silent, dreadfully silent; -yet it was by no means empty. On all hands lay -straight, stiff bodies of men and beasts, seemingly -all dead. Nevertheless, as he continued to gaze, his -courage returned; for the pimpled noses and ruddy -faces of the Switzers told him that they were no -worse than asleep; and their cups, which yet held -a few heeltaps of wine, proved that they had fallen -asleep over a drinking-bout.</p> - -<p>He stepped by them and passed across a second -great court paved with marble; he mounted a -broad flight of marble steps leading to the main -doorway; he entered a guardroom, just within the -doorway, where the guards stood in rank with -shouldered muskets, every man of them asleep and -snoring his best. He made his way through a -number of rooms filled with ladies and gentlemen, -some standing, others sitting, but all asleep. He -drew aside a heavy purple curtain, and once more -held his breath; for he was looking into the great -Hall of State where, at a long table, sat and slumbered -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>the <i>King</i> with his Council. The Lord -Chancellor slept in the act of dipping pen into -inkpot; the Archbishop in the act of taking snuff; -and between the spectacles on the Archbishop's -nose and the spectacles on the Lord Chancellor's -a spider had spun a beautiful web.</p> - -<p><i>Prince Florimond</i> tiptoed very carefully past -these august sleepers and, leaving the hall by another -door, came to the foot of the grand staircase. Up -this, too, he went; wandered along a corridor to -his right, and, stopping by hazard at one of the -many doors, opened it and looked into a bath-room -lined with mirrors and having in its midst, sunk in -the floor, a huge round basin of whitest porcelain -wherein a spring of water bubbled deliciously. -Three steps led down to the bath, and at the head -of them stood a couch, with towels, and court-suit -laid ready, exquisitely embroidered and complete to -the daintiest of lace ruffles and the most delicate of -body linen.</p> - -<p>Then the <i>Prince</i> bethought him that he had -ridden far before ever coming to the wood; and -the mirrors told him that he was also somewhat -travel-stained from his passage through it. So, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>having by this time learnt to accept any new -wonder without question, he undressed himself and -took a bath, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Nor -was he altogether astonished, when he tried on the -clothes, to find that they fitted him perfectly. Even -the rosetted shoes of satin might have been made -to his measure.</p> - -<p>Having arrayed himself thus hardily, he resumed -his quest along the corridor. The very next door -he tried opened on a chamber all panelled with -white and gold; and there, on a bed the curtains -of which were drawn wide, he beheld the loveliest -vision he had ever seen: a Princess, seemingly -about seventeen or eighteen years old, and of a -beauty so brilliant that he could not have believed -this world held the like.</p> - -<p>But she lay still, so still!... <i>Prince Florimond</i> -drew near, trembling and wondering, and -sank on his knees beside her. Still she lay, scarcely -seeming to breathe, and he bent and touched with -his lips the little hand that rested, light as a rose-leaf, -on the coverlet....</p> - -<p>With that, as the long spell of her enchantment -came to an end, the <i>Princess</i> awaked; and looking -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>at him with eyes more tender than a first sight of -him might seem to excuse:—</p> - -<p>'Is it you, my <i>Prince</i>?' she said. 'You have -been a long while coming!'</p> - -<p>The <i>Prince</i>, charmed by these words, and still -more by the manner in which they were spoken, -knew not how to find words for the bliss in his -heart. He assured her that he loved her better -than his own self. Their speech after this was not -very coherent; they gazed at one another for longer -stretches than they talked; but if eloquence lacked, -there was plenty of love. He, to be sure, showed -the more embarrassment; and no need to wonder -at this—she had had time to think over what to -say to him; for I hold it not unlikely (though -the story does not say anything of this) that the -good Fairy <i>Hippolyta</i> had taken care to amuse -her, during her long sleep, with some pleasurable -dreams. In short, the <i>Princess Aurora</i> and the -<i>Prince Florimond</i> conversed for four hours, and -still without saying the half they had to say.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile all the palace had awaked with the -<i>Princess</i>. In the Council Chamber the <i>King</i> -opened his eyes and requested the Lord Chancellor -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>to read that last sentence of his over again a little -more distinctly. The Lord Chancellor, dipping -his quill into the dry inkpot, asked the Archbishop -in a whisper how many t's there were in 'regrettable.' -The Archbishop, taking a pinch of snuff that had -long ago turned to dust, answered with a terrific -sneeze, which again was drowned by the striking of -all the clocks in the palace, as they started frantically -to make up for lost time. Dogs barked, doors -banged; the <i>Princess's</i> parrot screamed in his cage -and was answered by the peacocks squawking from -the terrace; amid which hubbub the Minister for -Agriculture, forgetting his manners, made a -trumpet of his hands and bawled across the table, -begging His Majesty to adjourn for dinner. In -short, every one's first thought was of his own -business; and, as they were not all in love, they -were ready to die with hunger.</p> - -<p>Even the <i>Queen</i>, who had dropped asleep while -discussing with her maids-of-honour the shade of -mourning which most properly expressed regret for -royal personages in a trance, lost her patience at -length, and sent one of her attendants with word -that she, for her part, was keen-set for something to -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>eat, and that in her young days it had been customary -for young ladies released from enchantment to accept -the congratulations of their parents without loss of -time. The <i>Prince Florimond</i>, by this message -recalled to his devoirs, helped the <i>Princess</i> to rise. -She was completely dressed, and very magnificently -too.</p> - -<p>Taking his beloved <i>Princess Aurora</i> by the hand, -he led her to her parents, who embraced her passionately -and—their first transports over—turned to, -welcome him as a son, being charmed (quite apart -from their gratitude) by the modest gallantry of his -address. They passed into a great dining-room lined -with mirrors, where they supped and were served by -the royal attendants. Violins and hautboys discoursed -music that was ancient indeed, but excellent, and -the meal was scarcely concluded before the company -enjoyed a very pleasant surprise.</p> - -<p><i>Prince Florimond</i>, having no eyes but for his -love, might be excused if he forgot that his attendants -must, long before now, have carried home -their report, and that his parents would be in deep -distress, wondering what had become of him. But -the <i>King</i>, the <i>Princess's</i> father, had a truly royal -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>habit of remembering details, especially when -it concerned setting folks at their ease. Before -dinner he had dispatched a messenger to carry -word to <i>Prince Florimond's</i> father, that his -son was safe, and to acquaint him briefly with -what had befallen. The messenger, riding through -the undergrowth—which now obligingly parted -before him as it had, a while ago, to admit the -<i>Prince</i>—and arriving at the outskirts of the wood, -found there a search-party vainly endeavouring to -break through the barrier, with the <i>Prince's</i> aged -father standing by and exhorting them in person, -to whom he delivered his message. Trembling -with relief—for he truly supposed his son to be lost -beyond recall—the old man entreated the messenger -to turn back and escort him. So he arrived, and -was ushered into the hall.</p> - -<p>The situation, to be sure, was delicate. But -when these two kings, both so well meaning, had -met and exchanged courtesies, and the one had -raised the other by the hand to a place on the daïs -beside him, already and without speech they had -almost accorded.</p> - -<p>'I am an old man,' said the <i>Prince's</i> father; 'I -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>have reigned long enough for my satisfaction, and -now care for little in life but to see my son happy.'</p> - -<p>'I think I can promise you that,' said the -<i>Princess's</i> father, smiling, with a glance at the two -lovers.</p> - -<p>'I am old enough, at any rate, to have done -with ambitions,' said the one.</p> - -<p>'And I,' said the other, 'have dreamed long -enough, at any rate, to despise them. What matters -ruling to either of us two, while we see your son -and my daughter reigning together?'</p> - -<p>So it was agreed, then and there; and after -supper, without loss of time, the Archbishop married -the <i>Prince Florimond</i> and the <i>Princess Aurora</i> in -the chapel of the Castle. The two Kings and the -<i>Princess's</i> mother saw them to their chamber, and -the first maid-of-honour drew the curtain. They -slept little—the <i>Princess</i> had no occasion; but the -<i>Prince</i> next morning led his bride back to the city, -where they were acclaimed by the populace and -lived happy ever after, reigning in prosperity and -honour.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> - - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i17">MORAL<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Ye Maids, to await some while a lover fond,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Rich titled, debonair as Florimond,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Is reason; and who learns on fate to attend</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Goes seldom unrewarded in the end—</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>'What! No one kiss us for a hundred years!'</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>There, la-la-la! I understood, my dears.</i><br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i16">ANOTHER<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Further, the story would suggest a doubt</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>That marriage</i> may <i>be happiest when deferr'd—</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>'Deferr'd?' you cry—'Deferr'd,' I see you pout,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>—We'll skip this morale and attempt a third.</i><br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i16">ANOTHER<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Thirdly, our able then appears to prove</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Disparity of years no bar to love.</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Crabb'd Age and Youth—But that's an ancient quarrel,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>And I'll not interfere. There 's no third moral.</i><br /></span> -</div></div> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> -<img src="images/b01.jpg" width="300" height="178" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/h03.jpg" width="450" height="237" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2><a id="BLUE_BEARD"></a>BLUE BEARD</h2> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/line450.jpg" width="450" height="45" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>In the East, in a city not far from Baghdad, there -lived a man who had many possessions and -might have been envied by all who knew him had -these possessions been less by one. He had fine -houses in town and country, retinues of servants, -gold and silver plate in abundance, coffers heaped -with jewels, costly carpets, embroidered furniture, -cabinets full of curiosities, gilded coaches, teams of -Arab horses of the purest breed. But unluckily he -had also a blue beard, which made him so frightfully -ugly that every woman wanted to scream and -run away at sight of him.</p> - -<p>Among his neighbours was a lady of quality, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>who had two sons and two daughters. Upon these -two damsels <i>Blue Beard</i> cast his affections, without -knowing precisely which he preferred; and asked -the lady to bestow the hand of one of her daughters -upon him, adding, not too tactfully, that he would -leave the choice to her. Neither <i>Anne</i> nor <i>Fatima</i> -was eager for the honour. They sent their suitor -to and fro, and back again from one to the other: -they really could not make up their minds to accept -a husband with a blue beard. It increased their -repugnance (for they were somewhat romantic -young ladies) to learn that he had already married -several wives; and, moreover, nobody could tell -what had become of them, which again was not -reassuring.</p> - -<p><i>Blue Beard</i>, to make their better acquaintance, -invited them, with their mother and brothers and a -dozen or so of their youthful friends, to divert -themselves at one of his country houses, where they -spent a whole fortnight, and (as they confessed) in -the most agreeable pastimes. Each day brought -some fresh entertainment: they hunted, they -hawked, they practised archery, they angled for -gold-fish, or were rowed to the sound of music on -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>the waters of their host's private canal, they picnicked -in the ruined castles, of which he owned quite a -number. Each day concluded, too, with banqueting, -dancing, card-parties, theatricals; or would -have concluded, had these young people felt any -disposition to go to bed. They preferred, however, -to sit up until morning, joking and teasing one -another. <i>Blue Beard</i>, who had arrived at middle -age, would have been grateful for a little more sleep -than they allowed him, but showed himself highly -complaisant and smiled at their pranks even when—their -awe of him having worn off—they balanced a -basin of water above his chamber door, to fall on -his head and douch him, or sewed up his night-garments, -or stuffed his bolster with the prickly -cactus (an Eastern vegetable, of which he possessed -whole avenues); nay, even when, for the same -mischievous purpose, they despoiled his garden of -an aloe which was due to blossom in a few days' -time, after having remained flowerless for a century, -he betrayed no chagrin but merely raised the wages -of his head-gardener, heart-broken over the loss of -a plant so economical in giving pleasure. In short -all went so smoothly that the younger daughter -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>began to find their host's beard not so blue after -all.</p> - -<p>She confided this to her mother. 'Dear mother,' -she said, 'it is doubtless nothing more than my -fancy, but his beard <i>does</i> seem to me to have altered -in colour during the last ten days—a very little, of -course.'</p> - -<p>'Then you, too, have observed it!' the lady -interrupted delightedly. 'My dearest child, you -cannot imagine how your words relieve me! For -a week past I have accused my eyesight of failing -me, and myself of growing old.'</p> - -<p>'Then you really think there <i>is</i> a change?' -asked <i>Fatima</i>, at once doubtful and hoping.</p> - -<p>'Indeed, yes. Ask yourself if it be reasonable -to suppose that our eyes are playing a trick on -both of us? Not,' her mother went on, 'that I, -for my part, have any prejudice against blue. On -the contrary, it is a beautiful colour, and considered -lucky. The poets—you will have remarked—when -they would figure to us the highest attainable -happiness, select a blue flower or a blue bird for its -emblem. Heaven itself is blue; and, at the least, a -blue beard must be allowed to confer distinction.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>'A greyish-blue,' hazarded <i>Fatima</i>.</p> - -<p>'A bluish-grey, rather,' her mother corrected -her: 'that is, if I must define the shade as it -appears to me.'</p> - -<p>'And,' still hesitated <i>Fatima</i>, 'since it has -begun to change, there seems no reason why it -should not continue to do so.'</p> - -<p>'My darling'—her mother kissed her—'that -is precisely the point! Its colour is changing, -you say. But for what reason? Obviously because -he is in love; and what love has begun, love can -carry to a conclusion. Nay, but put it on the -ground of pity alone. Could a feeling heart set -itself any task more angelic than to rescue so -worthy a gentleman from so hideous an affliction—if -affliction it be, which I am far from -allowing?'</p> - -<p><i>Fatima</i> reflected on her mother's advice, but -thought it prudent to consult her sister <i>Anne</i> and -her step-brothers before coming to a decision which, -once taken, must be irrevocable.</p> - -<p>They listened to her very good-naturedly; -though, to tell the truth, all three were somewhat -jaded, having sat up all night at the card-tables, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>playing at ombre, quadrille, lasquenet; and Heaven -knows what other games.</p> - -<p>'My dear <i>Fatima</i>,' said her sister <i>Anne</i> with a -little yawn, 'I congratulate you with all my heart -on having made a discovery which, beyond a doubt -and but for your better diligence, I should have had -to make for myself before long.'</p> - -<p>As for her step-brothers, they were in the best -of humours at having won a considerable sum of -money from their host by superior play; and they -answered her, quoting a proverb, that 'at nights all -cats are grey, and all beards too,' and seemed to -consider this very much to the point.</p> - -<p><i>Fatima</i> was greatly relieved by these assurances. -On the evening before the company dispersed <i>Blue -Beard</i> again sought a private interview and pressed -his suit. She accepted him without further ado, -and as soon as they returned to town the marriage -was concluded.</p> - -<p class="p2">They had been married little more than a -month when <i>Blue Beard</i> came to his wife one -morning, and told her that letters of importance had -arrived for him: he must take a journey into the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>country and be away six weeks at least on a matter -of business. He desired her to divert herself in his -absence by sending for her friends, to carry them off -to the country if she pleased, and to make good -cheer wherever she was.</p> - -<p>'Here,' said he, 'are the keys of the two great -store-chambers where I keep my spare furniture; -these open the strong-rooms of my gold and silver -plate which is only used on state occasions; these -unlock my chests of money, both gold and silver; -these, my jewel coffers; and this is the master-key -to all my apartments. But this little one, here, is -the key of the closet at the end of the great gallery -on the ground floor. Open all the others; go -where you will. But into that little closet I forbid -you to go; and I forbid it so strongly that if you -<i>should</i> disobey me and open it, there is nothing you -may not expect from my displeasure.'</p> - -<p><i>Fatima</i> promised to obey all his orders exactly; -whereupon he embraced her, got into his coach, -and was driven off.</p> - -<p>Her good friends and neighbours scarcely waited -for the young bride's invitation, so impatient were -they to view all the riches of her grand house, having -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>never dared to come while her husband was at -home, because of his terrifying blue beard. They -overran the house without loss of time, hunting -their curiosity from room to room, along the -corridors and in and out of closets and wardrobes, -cabinets and presses; opening cupboards, ferreting -in drawers, and still exclaiming over their contents -as each new discovery proved more wonderful than -the last. They roamed through the bedrooms and -spent a long while in the two great store-chambers, -where they could not sufficiently admire the number -and beauty of the tapestries, beds, sofas, consoles, -stands, tables, but particularly the looking-glasses, -in which you could see yourself from head to foot, -with their frames of glass and silver and silver-gilt, -the finest and costliest ever seen. They ceased not -to extol and to envy their friend's good fortune.</p> - -<p>'If my husband could only give me such a -house as this,' said one to another, 'for aught I -cared he might have a beard of all the colours of -the rainbow!'</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter"><a id="pl04"></a> -<a href="images/large_pl04.jpg"><img src="images/pl04.jpg" width="600" alt="" /></a> -</div> - -<p class="caption">They overran the house without loss of time.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p><i>Fatima</i>, meanwhile, was not in the least amused -by the sight of all these riches, being consumed by -a curiosity even more ardent than that of her -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>friends. Indeed, she could scarcely contain herself -and listen to their chatter, so impatient she felt to -go and open the closet downstairs. If only <i>Blue -Beard</i> had not forbidden this one little thing! Or -if, having reasons of his own to keep it secret, he had -been content to take the key away with him, saying -nothing about it! At least, if he wished to prove -whether or not poor <i>Fatima</i> could rise above the -common frailty of her sex—and he was, as we shall -see, a somewhat exacting husband—he should have -warned her. As it was, her curiosity grew and -possessed her until at length, without even considering -how uncivil it was to leave her guests, she -escaped from them and ran down a little back staircase, -in such haste that twice or thrice she tripped -over her gown and came near breaking her neck.</p> - -<p>When she reached the door of the closet she -hesitated for a moment or so, thinking upon her -husband's command, and considering what ill might -befall her if she disobeyed it. While he uttered it -his look had been extremely stern, and a blue beard—for -after a month of married life she could no -longer disguise from herself that it was still blue, or -at any rate changing colour less rapidly than she or -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>her mother had promised themselves—might betoken -a harsh temper. On the other hand, and -though she continued to find it repulsive, he had -hitherto proved himself a kind, even an indulgent -husband, and for the life of her she could not -imagine there was anything unpardonable in opening -so small a chamber. The temptation, in short, -was too strong for her to overcome. She took the -little key and, trembling, opened the door.</p> - -<p>At first, shading her eyes and peering in, she -could see nothing, because the window-shutters were -closed. But after some moments she began to perceive -that the light, falling through the shutters, -took a reddish tinge as it touched the floor. So red -it was—or rather, red-purple—that for a moment -or two she supposed the closet to be paved with -porphyry of that colour. Still, as she stared, and -her eyes by degrees grew accustomed to the gloom, -she saw—and moment by moment the truth crept -upon her and froze her—that the floor was all -covered with clotted blood. In the dull shine of it -something horrible was reflected.... With an -effort she lifted her eyes to the wall facing her, and -there, in a row, on seven iron clamps, hung the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>bodies of seven dead women with their feet dangling -a few inches above the horrible pool in which their -blood had mingled.... Little doubt but these -were the wives whom <i>Blue Beard</i> had married and -whose throats he had cut, one after another!</p> - -<p>Poor <i>Fatima</i> thought to die of fear, and the key, -which she had pulled from the lock, fell from her -hand. When she had regained her senses a little, -she picked it up and locked the door again; but her -hand shook so that this was no easy feat, and she -tottered upstairs to recover herself in her own room. -But she found it filled with her officious friends, -who, being occupied with envy of her riches and -having no reason to guess that, in a husband's -absence, anything could afflict so fortunate a wife, -either honestly ignored her pallor or hoped (while -promising to come again) that they had not overtired -her by their visit.</p> - -<p>They promised, too, to repeat their call very -soon, at the same time inquiring how long her -husband's journey might be expected to last. It -was plain that they feared him, one and all. Half -an hour ago she might have wondered at this.</p> - -<p>They were gone at last. <i>Fatima</i>, drawing the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>key from her pocket, now to her horror observed a -dull smear upon it, and remembered that it had fallen -at her feet on the edge of the pool of blood in the -closet. She wiped it; she rubbed it on the sleeve -of her robe; but the blood would not come off. -In a sudden terror she ran to her dressing-room, -poured out water, and began to soap the key. But -in vain did she wash it, and even scrape it with a -knife and scrub it with sand and pumice-stone. -The blood still remained, for the key was a magic -key, and there was no means of making it quite -clean; as fast as the blood was scoured off one side -it came again on the other.</p> - -<p>She was still scouring and polishing, when a -horn sounded not very far away. In her flurry she -paid little heed to this, or to the rumble of wheels -she heard approaching. Frightened though she -was, she supposed that she had still almost six weeks -in which to restore by some means the key to its -brightness. But when the wheels rolled up to the -porchway and came to a stop, and when the horn, -sounding again, blew her husband's flourish, then -indeed the poor lady's knees knocked together and -almost sank beneath her. Hiding the key in the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>bosom of her bodice, she tottered forth to the head -of the stairs, to behold <i>Blue Beard</i> himself standing -beneath the lamp in the hall below.</p> - -<p>He caught sight of her as she leaned over, clinging -to the balustrade; and called up cheerfully that -he had received letters on the road with news that -his journey was after all unnecessary—the business -he went about had been settled, and to his advantage. -Still shaking in every limb, <i>Fatima</i> crept -downstairs to give him greeting. She ordered -supper to be prepared in haste; and while he ate, -forced herself to ask a hundred questions concerning -his adventures. In short she did all she could to -give him proof that she was delighted at his speedy -return.</p> - -<p>Next morning, having summoned her to attend -him on the terrace, he asked her to render back the -keys; which she gave him, but with such a -trembling hand that he easily guessed what had -happened.</p> - -<p>'How is this? 'said he. 'Why is not the key -of my closet among the rest?'</p> - -<p>'I must have left it upstairs on my table,' said -<i>Fatima</i>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>'Fetch it to me at once,' said <i>Blue Beard</i>. 'At -once, and without fail.'</p> - -<p>She went, and after a while returned, protesting -that she could not find it.</p> - -<p>'Go back and seek again,' commanded <i>Blue -Beard</i>, dangerously calm.</p> - -<p>After going backwards and forwards several times, -she could pretend no longer, but brought him the key. -<i>Blue Beard</i> examined it closely, and demanded—</p> - -<p>'How came this blood upon the key?'</p> - -<p>'I do not know,' answered poor <i>Fatima</i>, paler -than death.</p> - -<p>'You do not know!' cried <i>Blue Beard</i> in a -terrible voice. 'But I know well enough. You -have chosen to enter that closet. Mighty well, -madam; since that poor room of mine so appeals -to your fancy, your whim shall not be denied. -You <i>shall</i> go in, and take your place among the -ladies you saw there!'</p> - -<p><i>Fatima</i> flung herself at her husband's feet, and -wept and begged his pardon with every sign of -truly repenting her disobedience. She would have -melted a rock, so beautiful and sorrowful she was; -but <i>Blue Beard</i> had a heart harder than any rock.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter"><a id="pl05"></a> -<a href="images/large_pl05.jpg"><img src="images/pl05.jpg" width="600" alt="" /></a> -</div> - -<p class="caption">The unhappy FATIMA cried up to her:—<br /> -'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see any one coming?'</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>'You must die, madam,' said he, 'and that -presently.'</p> - -<p>'Since I must die,' she answered, looking up at -him with eyes all bathed in tears, 'grant me a little -time to say my prayers.'</p> - -<p>'I grant you,' replied <i>Blue Beard</i>, 'ten minutes, -and not a second more.'</p> - -<p>As she went from him, and through the house -towards her own apartment, at the foot of the great -staircase she met with her sister <i>Anne</i>, who (unaware -of <i>Blue Beard's</i> return) had just arrived to -pay her a visit.</p> - -<p>'Ah, dear sister!' cried <i>Fatima</i>, embracing -her. 'But tell me, oh, and for Heaven's sake, -quickly! where are my brothers <i>Selim</i> and <i>Hassan</i>, -who promised to come with you?'</p> - -<p>'They are at home,' said <i>Anne</i>. 'They were -detained at parade, and I have come ahead of -them. I could wait for them no longer in my -impatience to see you; but just as I was starting -they arrived back from the parade-ground, and -sent word that they will follow as soon as they -have groomed their horses, and spend a happy day -with you.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>'Alas!' sobbed <i>Fatima</i>, 'they will never see -me alive in this world!'</p> - -<p>'But what has happened? 'asked her sister, -amazed.</p> - -<p>'He—<i>Blue Beard</i>—has returned.... Yes, -and in a few minutes he has promised to kill me. -But ah! ask me no questions—there is so little -time left. Dear sister, if you love me, run upstairs -and still up to the top of the tower, look if my -brothers are not coming, and if you see them, give -them a signal to make haste!'</p> - -<p>Her sister <i>Anne</i> left her and ran up, up, to the -roof of the tower; and from time to time as the -minutes sped, the unhappy <i>Fatima</i> cried up to -her:—</p> - -<p>'<i>Anne, Sister Anne, do you see any one coming?</i>'</p> - -<p>And <i>Sister Anne</i> answered her:—</p> - -<p>'<i>I see nothing but the noon dust a-blowing, -and the green grass a-growing.</i>'</p> - -<p>By and by <i>Blue Beard</i>, who had pulled out -his huge sabre, and was trying its edge on the short -turf of the terrace, shouted to her:—</p> - -<p>'Wife, your time is up. Come down, and at -once!'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>Then, as she made no answer, he shouted again, -and as loudly as he could bawl: 'Come down -quickly, or I will come up to you!'</p> - -<p>'A moment—give me a moment longer!' she -answered, and called softly to her sister: '<i>Anne, -Sister Anne, do you see any one coming?</i>'</p> - -<p>And <i>Sister Anne</i> answered: '<i>I see nothing -but the noon dust a-blowing, and the green grass -a-growing.</i>'</p> - -<p>'Come down quickly,' shouted <i>Blue Beard</i>, 'or -I will come up to you!'</p> - -<p>'I am coming,' answered his wife; and again -she cried: '<i>Anne, Sister Anne, do you see any one -coming?</i>'</p> - -<p>'I see,' answered <i>Sister Anne</i>, 'yonder a great -cloud of dust coming.'</p> - -<p>'Is it my brothers?'</p> - -<p>'Alas! no, sister. I see a flock of sheep.'</p> - -<p>'Will you not come down?' bawled <i>Blue Beard</i>.</p> - -<p>'Just one moment longer!' entreated his wife, -and once more she called out: '<i>Anne, Sister Anne, -do you see nobody coming?</i>'</p> - -<p>'I see,' she answered, 'yonder two Knights -a-riding, but they are yet a great way off.... God -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>be praised,' she cried a moment after, 'they are our -brothers! I am waving my handkerchief to them -to hasten.'</p> - -<p>Then <i>Blue Beard</i> stamped his foot and roared -out so terribly that he made the whole house -tremble. The poor lady came down and, casting -herself, all in tears and dishevelled, at his feet, -clasped him by the ankles while she besought him -for mercy.</p> - -<p>'This shall not help you,' said <i>Blue Beard</i>, -'You must die!' Then, taking hold of her hair -and twisting her head back, the better to expose her -beautiful throat, he exclaimed: 'This be the lesson -I read against curiosity, the peculiar vice of womankind, -and which above all others I find detestable. -To that most fatal habit all the best accredited -religions, in whatever else they may differ, unite in -attributing the first cause of all misfortunes to which -the race is subject.... In this strain he continued -for fully three minutes, still grasping her hair -with one hand while with the other he flourished -his sabre.</p> - -<p>As he ceased, poor <i>Fatima</i> looked up at -him with dying eyes. 'Ah, sir!' she besought -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>him, (if this curiosity be, as you remind me, my -worst sin, you will not be so cruel as to destroy me -before I have confessed and asked pardon for it. -Grant me, then, just one moment more to fix my -thoughts on devotion!'</p> - - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter"><a id="pl06"></a> -<a href="images/large_pl06.jpg"><img src="images/pl06.jpg" width="600" alt="" /></a> -</div> - -<p class="caption">Then BLUE BEARD roared out so terribly -that he made the whole house tremble.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>'No, no,' was his answer; 'recommend thyself -to Heaven'; and he swung up his sabre to strike.</p> - -<p>At that very instant there sounded so loud a -knocking at the gate that he came to a sudden stop. -His arm dropped as the gate flew open and two -cavaliers ran in with drawn swords and rushed upon -him. Loosing his hold upon <i>Fatima</i>, who sank -fainting upon the grass, he ran to save himself, but -the two brothers were so hot on his heels that, after -pursuing him through the vineries and the orange-house, -they overtook him just as he reached the -steps of the main porch. There they ran their -swords through his body, and, after making sure -that he was dead, returned to their sister, who -opened her eyes, indeed, as they bent over her, but -had not strength enough to rise and embrace them.</p> - -<p class="p2"><i>Blue Beard</i> had no heirs, and so his wife became -mistress of all his estates. She employed a part of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>her wealth to marry her sister <i>Anne</i> to a young -gentleman who had loved her a long while; -another part to purchase captains' commissions for -her two step-brothers; and the rest to marry herself -to a very worthy gentleman who made her -forget the short but unhappy time she had passed -with <i>Blue Beard</i>.</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i17">MORAL<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i11">(For Curious Wives)<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Wives should have one lord only. Some have reckon'd</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>In Curiosity t' enjoy a second.</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>But Scripture says we may not serve two masters,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>And little keys have opened large disasters.</i><br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i16">ANOTHER<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">(For Chastising or Correcting Husbands)<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i1"><i>The very best sermon that ever was preach'd</i><br /></span> -<span class="i1"><i>Was a thought less effective the longer it reached.</i><br /></span> -</div></div> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> -<img src="images/b01.jpg" width="300" height="178" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/h04.jpg" width="450" height="224" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2><a id="CINDERELLA"></a>CINDERELLA -<span style="font-size: smaller;">OR THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER</span></h2> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/line450.jpg" width="450" height="45" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>Once upon a time there lived a gentleman who -married twice. His second wife was a widow -with two grown-up daughters, both somewhat past -their prime, and this woman would have been the -proudest and most overbearing in the world had not -her daughters exactly resembled her with their fine -airs and insolent tempers. The husband, too, had -by his first wife a child of his own, a young -daughter, and so good and so gentle that she -promised to grow up into the living image of her -dead mother, who had been the most lovable of -women.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>The wedding festivities were no sooner over -than the stepmother began to show herself in her -true colours. She could not endure the girl's good -qualities, which by contrast rendered her own -daughters the more odious. She put her to drudge -at the meanest household work, and thus she and -her precious darlings not only wreaked their spite -but saved money to buy themselves dresses and -finery. It was the child who scoured the pots and -pans, scrubbed the floors, washed down the stairs, -polished the tables, ironed the linen, darned the -stockings, and made the beds. She herself slept at -the top of the house in a garret, upon a wretched -straw mattress, while her sisters had apartments of -their own with inlaid floors, beds carved and gilded -in the latest fashion, and mirrors in which they -could see themselves from head to foot.</p> - -<p>Yet they were so helpless, or rather they -thought it so menial to do anything for themselves, -that had they but a ribbon to tie, or a bow to adjust, -or a bodice to be laced, the child must be sent for. -When she came it was odds that they met her with a -storm of abuse, in this fashion:—</p> - -<p>'What do you mean, pray, by answering the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>bell in this state? Stand before the glass and -look at yourself! Look at your hands—faugh! -How can you suppose we should allow you to touch -a ribbon, or even come near us, with such hands? -Run downstairs, slut, and put yourself under the -kitchen pump'—and so on.</p> - -<p>'How can I help it?' thought the poor little -drudge. 'If I do not run at once when the bell -rings, they scold me for that. Yet they ring—both -of them together sometimes—a minute after setting -me to rake out a grate and sift the ashes. As for -looking at myself in the glass, gladly would I do it -if they allowed me one. But they have told me -that if I had a glass I should only waste time in -front of it.'</p> - -<p>She kept these thoughts to herself, however, and -suffered her ill-usage patiently, not daring to complain -to her father, who would, moreover, have -joined with the others in chiding her, for he was -wholly under his wife's thumb; and she had enough -of chiding already. When she had done her work she -used to creep away to the chimney-corner and seat -herself among the cinders, and from this the household -name for her came to be <i>Cinder-slut</i>; but the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>younger sister, who was not so ill-tempered as the -elder, called her <i>Cinderella</i>. They were wise in -their way to deprive her of a looking-glass; for in -truth, and in spite of her sorry rags, <i>Cinderella</i> was -a hundred times more beautiful than they with all -their magnificent dresses.</p> - -<p class="p2">It happened that the King's son gave a ball, and -sent invitations through the kingdom to every -person of quality. Our two misses were invited -among the rest, for they cut a great figure in that -part of the country. Mightily pleased they were to -be sure with their cards of invitation, all printed in -gold and stamped with the broad red seal of the -Heir Apparent; and mightily busy they were, discussing -what gowns and head-dresses would best -become them. This meant more worry for -<i>Cinderella</i>, for it was she who ironed her sisters' -linen, goffered their tucks and frills, pleated their -wristbands, pressed their trimmings of old lace and -wrapped them away in tissue paper. A score of -times all this lace, piece by piece, had to be unwrapped, -inspected, put away again; and after a -trying-on, all the linen had to be ironed, goffered, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>crimped, or pleated afresh for them. They could -talk of nothing but their ball dresses.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter"><a id="pl07"></a> -<a href="images/large_pl07.jpg"><img src="images/pl07.jpg" width="600" alt="" /></a> -</div> - -<p class="caption">She used to creep away to the chimney-corner -and seat herself among the cinders.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>'For my part,' said the elder, 'I shall wear a -velvet cramoisie trimmed <i>à l'Anglaise</i>'—for she had -a passion for cramoisie, and could not perceive how -ill the colour went with her complexion. 'I had -thought of cloth-of-gold, but there's the cost of -the underskirt to be considered; and underskirts -seem to grow dearer and dearer in these days. -What a relief,' she went on, 'it must be to have -money and not be forced to set one thing against -another!'</p> - -<p>'I,' said the younger, 'must make shift with my -old underskirt; that is, unless I can wheedle some -money out of Papa'—for so, in their affection, they -called their stepfather. '<i>Cinderella</i> can take out -the worst stains to-morrow with a little eau-de-Cologne. -I believe that, if she tries, she can make -it look as good as new; and, at all events, it will -give her something to do instead of wasting an -afternoon. I don't pretend that I <i>like</i> wearing an -old underskirt, and I hope to make dear Papa -sensible of this; but against it I shall have the -gold-flowered robe, on which I am determined, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>and my diamond stomacher, which is somewhat -better than the common.'</p> - -<p>'And I, of course,' said the elder, 'must wear -my diamond spray. If only it had a ruby in the -clasp instead of a sapphire! Rubies go so much -better with cramoisie.... I suppose there is no -time now to ask the jeweller to re-set it with -a ruby.'</p> - -<p>'But you don't possess a ruby, dear,' murmured -her sister, who did possess one, and had no intention -of lending it. 'And, besides, sapphires suit you so -much better!'</p> - -<p>They sent for the best milliner they could find, -to build their mob-caps in triple tiers; and for the -best hairdresser to arrange their hair; and their -patches were supplied by the shop to which all the -Quality went. From time to time they called up -<i>Cinderella</i> to ask her advice, for she had excellent -taste. <i>Cinderella</i> advised them perfectly, and even -offered her services to dress their hair for them on -the night of the ball. They accepted gladly enough.</p> - -<p>Whilst she was dressing them one asked her: -'<i>Cinderella</i>, would you not like to be going to the -ball?'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>'Alas! miss,' said <i>Cinderella</i>, 'you are making -fun of me. It is not for the like of me to be there.'</p> - -<p>'You are right, girl. Folks would laugh indeed -to see <i>Cinder-slut</i> at a ball!'</p> - -<p>Any one but <i>Cinderella</i> would have pinned on -their mob-caps awry; and if you or I had been in her -place, I won't swear but that we might have pushed -in the pins just a trifle carelessly. But she had no -malice in her nature; she attired them to perfection, -though they found fault with her all the while it -was doing, and quite forgot to thank her when it -was done. Let it be related, in excuse for their -tempers, that they had passed almost two days -without eating, so eager were they and excited. -The most of this time they had spent in front of -their mirrors, where they had broken more than a -dozen laces in trying to squeeze their waists and -make them appear more slender. They were -dressed a full two hours before the time fixed for -starting. But at length the coach arrived at the -door. They were tucked into it with a hundred -precautions, and <i>Cinderella</i> followed it with her -eyes as long as she could; that is to say, until the -tears rose and blinded them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>She turned away weeping, back to the house, -and crept into her dear chimney-corner; where, -being all alone in the kitchen, she could indulge -her misery.</p> - -<p>A long while she sat there. Suddenly, between -two heavy sobs she looked up, her eyes attracted by -a strange blue glow on the far side of the hearth: -and there stood the queerest lady, who must have -entered somehow without knocking.</p> - -<p>Her powdered hair was dressed all about her head -in the prettiest of short curls, amid which the most -exquisite jewels—diamonds, and rubies, and emeralds—sparkled -against the firelight. Her dress had -wide panniers bulging over a skirt of lace flounces, -billowy and delicate as sea-foam, and a stiff bodice, -shaped to the narrowest waist imaginable. Jewels -flashed all over this dress—or at least <i>Cinderella</i> supposed -them to be jewels, though, on second thoughts, -they might be fireflies, butterflies, glowworms. -They seemed at any rate to be alive, and to dart -from one point to another of her attire. Lastly, -this strange lady held in her right hand a short -wand, on the end of which trembled a pale bluish-green -flame; and it was this which had first -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>caught <i>Cinderella's</i> eye and caused her to look -up.</p> - -<p>'Good evening, child,' said the visitor in a sharp -clear voice, at the same time nodding kindly across -the firelight. 'You seem to be in trouble. What -is the matter?'</p> - -<p>'I wish,' sobbed <i>Cinderella</i>. 'I wish,' she -began again, and again she choked. This was all -she could say for weeping.</p> - -<p>'You wish, dear, that you could go to the ball; -is it not so?'</p> - -<p>'Ah, yes!' said <i>Cinderella</i> with a sigh.</p> - -<p>'Well, then,' said the visitor, 'be a good girl, -dry your tears, and I think it can be managed. I -am your godmother, you must know, and in younger -days your mother and I were very dear friends.' -She omitted, perhaps purposely, to add that she was -a Fairy; but <i>Cinderella</i> was soon to discover this -too. 'Do you happen to have any pumpkins in the -garden?' her godmother asked.</p> - -<p><i>Cinderella</i> thought this an odd question. She -could not imagine what pumpkins had to do with -going to a ball. But she answered that there were -plenty in the garden—a whole bed of them in fact.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>'Then let us go out and have a look at them.'</p> - -<p>They went out into the dark garden to the -pumpkin patch, and her godmother pointed to the -finest of all with her wand.</p> - -<p>'Pick that one,' she commanded.</p> - -<p><i>Cinderella</i> picked it, still wondering. Her -godmother opened a fruit knife that had a handle of -mother-of-pearl. With this she scooped out the -inside of the fruit till only the rind was left; then -she tapped it with her wand, and at once the -pumpkin was changed into a beautiful coach all -covered with gold.</p> - -<p>'Next we must have horses,' said her godmother. -'The question is, Have you such a thing as a mouse -trap in the house?'</p> - -<p><i>Cinderella</i> ran to look into her mouse trap, -where she found six mice all alive. Her godmother, -following, told her to lift the door of the trap a -little way, and as the mice ran out one by one she -gave each a tap with her wand, and each mouse -turned at once into a beautiful horse—which made a -fine team of six horses, of a lovely grey, dappled -with mouse colour.</p> - -<p>Now the trouble was to find a coachman.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>'I will go and see,' said <i>Cinderella</i>, who had -dried her tears and was beginning to find this -great fun, 'if there isn't such a thing as a rat in -the rat trap. We can make a coachman of him.'</p> - -<p>'You are right, dear,' said her godmother; -'run and look.'</p> - -<p><i>Cinderella</i> fetched her the rat trap. There -were three large rats in it. The Fairy chose one -of the three because of his enormous whiskers, and -at a touch he was changed into a fat coachman.</p> - -<p>Next she said: 'Go to the end of the garden; -and there in the corner of the wall behind the -watering-pot, unless I am mistaken, you will find -six lizards. Bring them to me.'</p> - -<p><i>Cinderella</i> had no sooner brought them than -her godmother changed them into six footmen, who -climbed up at once behind the coach with their -bedizened liveries, and clung on as though they had -been doing nothing else all their lives.</p> - -<p>The Fairy then said to <i>Cinderella</i>: 'Hey now, -child! This will do to go to the ball with, unless -you are hard to please.'</p> - -<p>'Indeed, yes,' answered <i>Cinderella</i>. 'But how -can I go, as I am, in these horrid clothes?'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>'You might have given me credit for thinking of -that too!' Her godmother did but touch her with -her wand, and on the instant her rags were transformed -into cloth of gold and silver, all bespangled -with precious stones. She felt her hair creeping up -into curls, and tiring and arranging itself in tiers, on -the topmost of which a double ostrich feather grew -from a diamond clasp that caught the rays of the old -lady's wand and shot them about the garden, this way -and that, making the slugs and snails crawl to shelter.</p> - -<p>'But the chief mark of a lady,' said her godmother, -eyeing her with approval, 'is to be well -shod,' and so saying she pulled out a pair of glass -slippers, into which <i>Cinderella</i> poked her toes -doubtfully, for glass is not as a rule an accommodating -material for slippers. You have to be measured -very carefully for it.</p> - -<p>But these fitted to perfection: and thus arrayed -from top to toe, <i>Cinderella</i> had nothing more to do -but kiss her godmother, thank her, and step into -the coach, the six horses of which were pawing the -cabbage beds impatiently.</p> - -<p>'Good-bye, child! 'said her godmother. 'But -of one thing I must warn you seriously. I have -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>power to send you thus to the ball, but my power -lasts only until midnight. Not an instant beyond -midnight must you stay there. If you over-stay -the stroke of twelve, your coach will become but -a pumpkin again, your horses will change back -into mice, your footmen into lizards, and your -ball dress shrink to the same rags in which I -found you.'</p> - -<p><i>Cinderella</i> promised that she would not fail to -take her departure before midnight: and, with that, -the coachman cracked his whip and she was driven -away, beside herself with joy.</p> - -<p class="p2">In the royal palace, and in the royal gardens, -over which shone the same stars which had looked -down upon <i>Cinderella's</i> pumpkins, the ball was at -its height: with scores and scores of couples dancing -on the waxed floor to the music of the violins; and -under the trees, where the music throbbed in faint -echoes, other scores of couples moving, passing and -repassing, listening to the plash of the fountains and -inhaling the sweet scent of the flowers.</p> - -<p>Now, as the King's son walked among his -guests, word was brought to him by his Chamberlain -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>that a grand Princess, whom nobody knew, had -just arrived and desired admission.</p> - -<p>'She will not tell her name,' said the Chamberlain; -'but that she is a Princess and of very high -dignity cannot be doubted. Apart from her beauty -and the perfection of her address (of which your -Royal Highness, perhaps, will allow me to be no -mean judge), I may mention that the very jewels in -her hair are worth a whole province.'</p> - -<p>The King's son hastened to the gate to receive -the fair stranger, handed her down from the coach, -and led her through the gardens, where the guests -drew apart and gazed in wonder at her loveliness. -Still escorted by him she entered the ball-room, -where at once a great silence fell, the dancing was -broken off, the violins ceased to play—so taken, so -ravished was everybody by the vision of this unknown -one. Everywhere ran the murmur, 'Ah! -how beautiful she is!' The <i>King</i> himself, old as -he was, could not take his eyes off her, and confided -to the <i>Queen</i> in a low voice that it was long -since he had seen so adorable a creature.</p> - -<p>All the ladies were busily studying her head-dress -and her ball gown, that they might order the like -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>next day for themselves, if only (vain hope!) they -could find materials so exquisite and dressmakers -clever enough.</p> - -<p>The King's son took her to the place of honour, -and afterwards led her out to dance. She danced -so gracefully that all admired her yet the more. A -splendid supper was served, but the young <i>Prince</i> ate -nothing of it, so intent was he on gazing upon her.</p> - -<p>She went and sat by her sisters, who bridled -with pleasure at the honour. She did them a -thousand civilities, sharing with them the nectarines -and citrons which the <i>Prince</i> brought her; and -still not recognising her, they marvelled at this, -being quite unused (as they never deserved) to be -selected for attentions so flattering.</p> - -<p>The King's son now claimed her for another -dance. It had scarcely come to an end when -<i>Cinderella</i> heard the clock strike the quarter to -twelve; whereupon she instantly desired her partner -to lead her to the <i>King</i> and <i>Queen</i>. 'For I must -be going,' she said.</p> - -<p>'It is cruel of you to go so early,' he protested. -'But at least you will come again to-morrow and -grant me many dances?'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>'Is there to be another ball, then, to-morrow?' -she asked.</p> - -<p>'To-morrow, yes; and as many morrows as -you wish, if only you will come.'</p> - -<p>'Ah, if I could! 'sighed <i>Cinderella</i> to herself: -for she was young, and it seemed to her that -she could never have enough of such evenings as -this, though they went on for ever and ever.</p> - -<p>The <i>Prince</i> led her to the daïs where sat the -<i>King</i> and <i>Queen</i>. She made a deep reverence -before them, a slighter but no less gracious one to -the company, and withdrew. Although she had -given no orders, her coach stood waiting for her. -Slipping in, she was whisked home in the time it -would take you to wink an eye.</p> - -<p>She had scarcely entered the house, however, -before she received a shock. For on the threshold -of the kitchen, glancing down to make sure that her -ball gown was not disarranged by this rapid journey, -she perceived that it had vanished—changed back -to the rags of her daily wear. But there, in the -light of the hearth, stood her godmother, who smiled -so pleasantly that <i>Cinderella</i> choked down her little -cry of disappointment.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter"><a id="pl08"></a> -<a href="images/large_pl08.jpg"><img src="images/pl08.jpg" width="600" alt="" /></a> -</div> - -<p class="caption">Whereupon she instantly desired her partner -to lead her to the KING and QUEEN.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>'Well, child? And how have you fared?'</p> - -<p>'Godmama, I have never been so happy in all -my life! And it is all thanks to you!' But after -thanking her, <i>Cinderella</i> could not help confessing -how she longed to go to the ball next evening. -The King's son had begged her to come again, and -oh! if she had been able to promise!</p> - -<p>'As to that, child,' said her godmother, 'we -will see about it when the time comes. But it has -been lonely, keeping watch and sitting up for you. -Will you not reward me by telling all about it?'</p> - -<p><i>Cinderella</i> needed no such invitation; she was -dying to relate her adventures. She talked and -talked, her godmother still smiling and questioning. -For two hours, may be, she talked and was -still recollecting a score of things to tell when her -sisters' coach rumbled up to the gate, and almost at -once there came a loud ring at the bell. She stared -and rubbed her eyes, for at the first sound of it her -godmother had vanished!</p> - -<p><i>Cinderella</i> ran and opened the door to her -sisters. 'What a long time you have stayed,' said -she, yawning, rubbing her eyes, and stretching herself -as though she had just waked out of sleep. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>(She had felt, however, no inclination at all to sleep -since their departure!)</p> - -<p>'If you had been at the ball,' said the elder -sister, 'you would not have felt tired. One of the -guests was the loveliest Princess—oh, the loveliest -you ever could see! She showed us a thousand -civilities. She gave us nectarines and citrons.'</p> - -<p><i>Cinderella</i> contained her joy. Upstairs, while -she unplaited her sisters' hair and unlaced their -bodices, she asked the name of the Princess. But -they answered that no one knew her; that the -King's son was wild about her, and would give -everything in the world to discover who she was. -<i>Cinderella</i> smiled. She no longer felt any temptation -at all to be clumsy with the hairpins.</p> - -<p>'Why then,' she said, 'she must be beautiful -indeed. And she went away, you say, without -telling her name? Is no one going to see her -again?'</p> - -<p>'As for that, she may come again to the ball -to-morrow. I am told that the <i>Prince</i> begged it, -almost with tears in his eyes.... For there is to -be another ball to-morrow, and we are going!'</p> - -<p>'Ah, heavens!' sighed <i>Cinderella</i>, how lucky -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>you are! Might I not just see her? Please, please, -Sister Caroline, take me to-morrow—I could -manage quite well if only you lent me your yellow -gown which you wear every evening!'</p> - -<p>'Hoity-toity! 'snapped <i>Miss Caroline</i>. 'You -cannot be awake. You must have been dreaming -to some purpose if you see me lending my clothes -to a nasty little Cinder-slut!'</p> - -<p><i>Cinderella</i> had quite well expected some such -rebuff, and was glad enough to get it, for it would -have been very awkward if her sister had been -willing to lend the gown.</p> - -<p class="p2">The next evening the two sisters were at the -ball; and so was <i>Cinderella</i>, but in even finer -attire than before. Her godmother had spared no -pains, and as for the expense, that hardly needs to -be considered when you can turn pumpkins into -gilt coaches, cobwebs into Valenciennes lace, and -beetles' wings into rubies, with the tap of a wand.</p> - -<p>The King's son in his impatience flew to her -coach door as soon as she arrived. Throughout -the evening he never left her side, nor ceased to -make pretty speeches; and she, pretty maid, was -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>far from finding his behaviour tiresome—so far, -indeed, that she forgot her godmother's warning. -The end was, that in the midst of a dance she heard -the stroke of a clock, looked up, was dismayed to -find it the first stroke of twelve when she believed -it yet an hour short of midnight, and made her -escape as lightly as a deer. The <i>Prince</i> followed, -but could not catch her. Only she dropped one -of her glass slippers, which he picked up and -treasured.</p> - -<p>With the last stroke of twelve, coach and footmen -had whisked away, and poor <i>Cinderella</i>, -barefoot now as well as in rags, panted homeward -over roads where the flints cut her until she bled, -and the owls and great moths blundered out of the -bushes against her face. To make matters worse, -a thunderstorm broke before she had ran half the -distance, and she arrived home in a terrible plight, -muddy, drenched to the skin, and almost more -dead than alive. In one thing only she was -fortunate: she had outstripped her sisters, whose -coach on the way home lost a wheel—and I have a -suspicion that <i>Cinderella's</i> godmother had something -to do with this misadventure too.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>At all events when <i>Cinderella</i> opened the -kitchen door the little lady stood as she had stood -the night before, in the glow of the hearth, -awaiting her.</p> - -<p>'Well, child,' she said, frowning, yet the frown -was not altogether unkindly, 'it is easily seen that -you have forgotten my warning and have suffered -for it. But what is <i>that</i> you are clutching?'</p> - -<p>Poor <i>Cinderella</i> drew from under her bedraggled -bodice a crystal slipper, fellow to the missing one. -It was the one remnant of all her finery, and somehow, -scarcely knowing why, she had hugged it to -her while she ran and never let it slip in all her -stumblings.</p> - -<p>Her godmother gazed at her with a queer -expression, that began by being a frown, yet in the -end had certainly changed into a shrewd smile.</p> - -<p>'You have been careless,' she said. 'Yet I am -pleased to see that you have managed to keep, at -any rate, one-half of your godmother's gift. 'I -think she meant by this that whereas all the rest of -<i>Cinderella's</i> adornment had been contrived out of -something other than it was, the two glass slippers -had been really produced out of the Fairy's pocket. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>They alone had not vanished at the stroke of midnight. -'But what has become of the other one?' -her godmother asked.</p> - -<p><i>Cinderella</i> did not know for certain, but fancied -that she must have dropped it in her hurry to -escape from the palace.</p> - -<p>'Yes, you are careless,' repeated the Fairy; -'but decidedly you are not unlucky.'</p> - -<p>And with that she vanished, as the bell sounded -announcing the sisters'return.</p> - -<p>They were not in the best of humours, to begin -with. <i>Cinderella</i> asked them if they had again -found the ball enjoyable, and if the beautiful lady had -been there. They told her yes; but that on the -stroke of twelve she had taken flight, and so hurriedly -that she had let fall one of her small glass slippers, -the prettiest in the world, which the King's son had -picked up. They added, that this indeed was the -first cause of their delay; for, seeking their carriage, -they had found the entry blocked, and the <i>Prince</i> -in the wildest state of mind, demanding of the -guards if they had not seen a Princess pass out. -The guards answered that they had seen no one pass -out but a ragged girl, who looked more like a -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>country wench than a Princess. Amid this to-do, -the sisters had with difficulty found their coach; -and then, within two miles of home, a wheel had -come off and the coach had lurched over, in a -thunderstorm, too; and they had been forced to -walk the rest of the way, the one with a bruised -shoulder, and the other (which was worse) with a -twisted ankle. But, after all, the dance had been -worth these mischances and sufferings; and, said -they, harking back, the <i>Prince</i> was undoubtedly -deep in love, for they had left him gazing fondly at -the slipper, and little doubt—mysteriously as she -chose to behave—he would make every effort to -find the beautiful creature to whom it belonged.</p> - -<p class="p2">They told the truth, too. For a few days after, -the King's son had it proclaimed by sound of -trumpet that he would marry her whose foot the -slipper exactly fitted.</p> - -<p>At first they tried it on the Princesses of the -Court:</p> - -<p>Then on the Duchesses:</p> - -<p>Then on the Marchionesses:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>Then on the Countesses and Viscountesses:</p> - -<p>Then on the Baronesses:</p> - -<p>And so on, through all the ladies of the Court, -and a number of competitors, who, though they -did not belong to it, yet supposed that the smallness -of their feet was an argument that their parents had -very unjustly come down in the world. The Prime -Minister, who carried the glass slipper on a velvet -cushion, was kept very busy during the next few -weeks.</p> - -<p>At length he called on <i>Cinderella's</i> two sisters, -who did all they could to squeeze a foot into the -slipper, but by no means could they succeed.</p> - -<p><i>Cinderella</i>, who was looking on and admiring -their efforts, said laughingly:—</p> - -<p>'Let me see if it will fit me.'</p> - -<p>Her sisters began to laugh and mock at her, -but the Prime Minister, who had come to make -trial of the slipper, looked at <i>Cinderella</i> attentively, -and seeing how good-looking she was, said that it -was but just—he had orders to try it upon every -one.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter"><a id="pl09"></a> -<a href="images/large_pl09.jpg"><img src="images/pl09.jpg" width="600" alt="" /></a> -</div> - -<p class="caption">The Prime Minister was kept very busy -during the next few weeks.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>He asked <i>Cinderella</i> to sit down, and drawing -the slipper upon her little foot, he saw that it went -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>on easily, and fitted the foot like wax. Great was -the astonishment of the two sisters; but it was -greater when <i>Cinderella</i> pulled from her pocket the -other little slipper and put it upon the other foot. -On top of this came a rap at the door, and in -walked the Fairy Godmother, who, by a touch of -her wand upon <i>Cinderella's</i> clothes, made them still -more magnificent than they had been before.</p> - -<p>And now her two sisters knew <i>Cinderella</i> to be -the same beautiful creature they had seen at the -ball. They threw themselves at her feet, begging -her pardon for all the ill-usage they had made her -suffer. <i>Cinderella</i> raised and kissed them, saying -that she forgave them with all her heart, and -entreated them to be loving to her always.</p> - -<p>They led her to the young <i>Prince</i>, arrayed -as she was. He thought her lovelier than ever, -and, a few days after, they were married. <i>Cinderella</i>, -who was as good as she was beautiful, lodged her -two sisters in the palace, and married them that -same day to two great Lords of the Court.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i10">MORAL<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Better than wealth or art,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i3"><i>Jewels or a painted face,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>It is when a natural heart</i><br /></span> -<span class="i3"><i>Inhabits its natural place</i><br /></span> -<span class="i3"><i>And beats at a natural pace.</i><br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i9">ANOTHER<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Yet youth that is poor of purse,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i3"><i>No matter how witty or handsome,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Will find its talents no worse</i><br /></span> -<span class="i3"><i>For a godmamma to advance 'em.</i><br /></span> -</div></div> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> -<img src="images/b01.jpg" width="300" height="178" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/h05.jpg" width="450" height="230" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2><a id="BEAUTY"></a>BEAUTY AND THE BEAST</h2> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/line450.jpg" width="450" height="45" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>Once upon a time, in a country a long way -from here, there stood a flourishing city, full -of commerce; and in that city lived a merchant so -lucky in all his ventures that it seemed as if -fortune waited on his wishes. But while enormously -rich, he had a very long family of six sons and six -daughters; and as yet not one of them was settled -in life. The boys were too young to go out in the -world; and the girls, who had everything at home -the heart could desire, were in no hurry to risk a -change by choosing a husband, although many rich -and noble suitors paid court to them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>But one day an unexpected disaster brought -this pleasant state of things to an end. Their -house caught fire and was burnt to the ground; -and with it perished not only the magnificent -furniture, but the merchant's account books, bank -notes, gold and silver, and the precious wares on -which his wealth depended. Scarcely anything -was saved.</p> - -<p>This was but the beginning of their misfortunes. -Their father, who up to now had prospered in -everything he touched, lost in a very short while -every ship he had upon the sea. Some were -wrecked, others captured by pirates. His agents -failed; his clerks in foreign countries proved unfaithful; -and, in short, from the height of riches -he suddenly fell into the direst poverty.</p> - -<p>Nothing was left to him but one poor little -country cottage, at least a hundred leagues from -the city in which he had lived. In this he was -driven to find refuge, and to this he carried off his -family, who were in despair since the overthrow. -The daughters especially could not endure the -thought of dwelling in such a den (as they called -it). At first they had felt sure that on hearing -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>the news their suitors would be tripping one -another up in haste to renew their offers of -marriage. But in this they were soon undeceived. -Their downfall was no sooner known than all these -flattering wooers took to their heels in a troop. -They fared no better with their intimate friends, -who at once dropped their acquaintance. Nay, -those to whom our merchant had formerly shown -the greatest kindness were now the most eager to -speak ill of him.</p> - -<p>So nothing was left for this hapless family but -to take their departure from the city and shut -themselves up in the cottage, which stood in the -depth of a dismal and almost trackless forest. No -servants now to wait on them! The sons tilled -the ground and swept out the farm sheds; and -the daughters, dressed like country girls in coarse -linen frocks, were forced to turn their delicate -hands to the roughest employment and live on -hard fare of which there was little enough.</p> - -<p>Only the youngest daughter showed a brave -heart. She had been despondent as any of them -to begin with; but after weeping—as well she -might—for her father's misfortunes, she recovered -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>her natural gaiety, made the best of things, tried -to forget how ungrateful the world had been, -kept her father and her brothers amused with -her cheerful wit, and after she had done her -work, would sing and play. But her sisters would -not join with her in making the best of things. -'It is very easy for you to be happy,' the eldest -grumbled. 'You have low tastes and were born -for this kind of life.' The fact is, they were all -jealous of her because of her sweet temper and good -looks. So beautiful, indeed, was this youngest -sister that in the old days every one had agreed -to call her <i>Beauty</i>—by that and by no other name -she was known. Alone of them she might -easily, in the first days of their ruin, have found -a husband; but she could not think of this while -she could be of use to help and console her -family.</p> - -<p>Two years passed, and there came news which -seemed to offer a hope to escape. One of their -father's ships, long supposed to be lost, had arrived -in port with a rich cargo. The message further -advised his return to the city with speed, or his, -agents might sell the goods too cheaply and he -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>would lose his gains. So, whilst his children -danced with joy at the news, the merchant set -about preparing for his long journey.</p> - -<p>In their transport his daughters loaded him -with commissions for gowns and jewels it would -have taken a fortune to buy. Only <i>Beauty</i> would -not ask for anything. Her father, noting her -silence, interrupted the others who still kept adding -to their list of requirements.</p> - -<p>'Well, <i>Beauty</i>,' he said, 'and what shall I -bring home for you? Surely you, too, wish for -something?'</p> - -<p>'Dear father,' she answered, 'I wish for the -most precious thing in the world; and that is to -see you home again safe and sound.'</p> - -<p>This answer covered the sisters with confusion, -and vexed them so that one of them, speaking up -for the others, said tartly: 'This small miss is -putting on airs. She thinks, no doubt, she cuts a -figure with her affected fine sentiments!'</p> - -<p>Her father, however, was touched by her good -feeling. Nevertheless he told her to choose something—'For,' -said he, 'at your age it is only -natural to like dresses and pretty presents.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>'Well, dear father,' said she, 'since you insist, I -will beg you to bring me home a rose. I have not -seen one since we came to live here, and I love -roses.' In this way <i>Beauty</i> contrived to obey her -father and yet to put him to no expense.</p> - -<p>The day came for the merchant to embrace -them all and bid them farewell. He made the -best of his way to the great city; and arrived -there to be met with a great disappointment. To -be sure his vessel had come safely to port; but -his partners, believing him dead, had taken -possession of it and divided the cargo between -them. To make good his claim he was forced to -bring a number of tedious law-suits. He won -them in the end; but only to find, after six -months of trouble and expense, that he was almost -as poor as when he started.</p> - -<p>To make his misery complete he was forced to -travel back in the winter, in the most inclement -weather; so that by the time he reached the skirts -of the forest he was ready to drop with fatigue. -But reminding himself that his home was now not -many leagues away, he called up what strength, -remained to him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>As he pushed on through the forest, night overtook -him; and in the piercing cold, half buried—his -horse and he—in the deep snow that hid -every pathway, the poor merchant feared that his -last hour had come. Not so much as a hut did he -pass. The only shelter to be found was the trunk -of a hollow tree; and there he cowered through -the long night, kept awake by his hunger and the -howling of the wolves. Nor did the day bring -him much comfort: for thick snow lay everywhere, -and not a path was to be seen. It was only after -a weary search that he managed to recover his horse, -which had wandered away and partly sheltered -itself in another hollow tree. He mounted, and -now in a little while discovered a sort of track -which presently grew easier.</p> - -<p>Following this, he found himself in an avenue -of trees, at the entrance of which he halted and -rubbed his eyes. For no snow had fallen in this -avenue, and the trees were tall orange-trees, planted -in four rows and covered with flowers and fruit; -and here and there among the trees were statues, -some of single figures, others of groups representing -scenes of war, but all coloured like real life. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>At the end of the avenue, straight in front of him, -rose a magnificent castle in many terraces. The -merchant rode around to the stable courtyard, which -he found empty; and there, with half-frozen hands, -he unbridled and stabled his horse. Within the -doorway he found a staircase of agate with balusters -of carved gold. He mounted it and passed through -room after room, each more splendidly furnished -than the last. They were deliciously warm, too, -and he began to feel his limbs again. But he was -hungry; where could he find some one to give -him food? Everywhere was silence; and yet the -place had no look of being abandoned. Drawingrooms, -bedchambers, galleries—all stood unlocked.... -At last, tired of roaming, he came -to a halt in an apartment where some one had -lit a bright fire. A sofa drawn up cosily beside -it, invited him to sit and warm his limbs; and -resting there, he closed his eyes and fell into -deep and grateful slumber.</p> - -<p>As weariness had sent him to sleep, so hunger -awoke him. He opened his eyes and saw at his -elbow a table with meats and wine upon it. He -had been fasting for more than twenty-four hours, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>and lost no time in falling-to. He hoped that he -might soon have sight of this most hospitable -entertainer, whoever he might be, and an opportunity -of thanking him. Still no one appeared; -and now this good food did for him what fatigue -had done before. He dropped off again into an -easy slumber which lasted for four hours almost. -Again awaking, he saw at his elbow another small -table—of porphyry this time—upon which the unknown -hands had set out a dainty meal of cakes, -crystallised fruits and liqueurs. To this, too, he -did justice. But, as the time still passed and no -one appeared, he began to feel terrified, and resolved -to search once more through all the rooms.... -But still he found no one.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter"><a id="pl10"></a> -<a href="images/large_pl10.jpg"><img src="images/pl10.jpg" width="600" alt="" /></a> -</div> - -<p class="caption">He had been fasting, for more than twenty-four hours, -and lost no time in falling to.</p> - -<p>He was standing lost in thought, when of a -sudden it came into his mind that some kindly -power had perhaps prepared this palace of wonder -for him, that it with all its riches might indeed be -his. Possessed by this notion he once again made -a tour of the rooms and took stock of their treasures, -planning in his mind how he would divide them -amongst his children, assigning this apartment to -one and that to another, and whispering to himself -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>what joy he would carry home after all from his -journey. Then he went down into the garden, -where—though it was the depth of winter—the -birds were singing and the air breathed the scent -of a thousand flowers.</p> - -<p>'Surely,' he told himself, 'my daughters will be -happy here and never desire any more to go back to -the city. Quick! Let me saddle my horse at once -and ride home with the news!'</p> - -<p>The way to the stable was an alley fenced on -either hand with palings, and over the palings hung -great clusters of roses in bloom. They reminded -him of his promise to <i>Beauty</i>. He plucked one, -and was about to pluck a whole nosegay, when he -was startled by a horrible noise behind him, and -attempted to turn. But behind him stood a hideous -<i>Beast</i> who was overtaking him and reaching out -towards him.</p> - -<p>'Who gave you leave to pluck my roses?' -roared this monster. 'Was it not enough that -I made you welcome in my palace and treated you -kindly? And you show your gratitude by stealing -my flowers! But your insolence shall not go unpunished!'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>The good merchant, terrified no less by the -sight of this <i>Beast</i> than by his threats, let drop the -rose and flung himself on his knees.</p> - -<p>'My Lord,' he cried, 'have pity on me! I am -not ungrateful; but after all your kindness I could -not guess that so small a thing would offend you.'</p> - -<p>This speech did not at all abate the <i>Beast's</i> -wrath. 'Hold your tongue, sir,' he commanded, -'if you can offer me nothing but flatteries and -false titles. I am not "my lord." I am the <i>Beast</i>; -and your words will not save you from the death -you deserve.'</p> - -<p>The merchant, although in fear of his life, -plucked up courage to tell the monster that the -rose which he had been bold to pluck was for one -of his daughters, by name <i>Beauty</i>. Then, in hope -either to delay the <i>Beast's</i> vengeance or to touch -his compassion, he launched into the tale of all his -misfortunes, and of his reasons for the journey, -not forgetting to mention <i>Beauty</i> again and her -request.</p> - -<p>The <i>Beast</i> considered for a moment before -answering him in a somewhat milder tone: 'I will -forgive you; but only on condition that you give -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>me one of your daughters. <i>Some one</i> must make -amends for this trespass.'</p> - -<p>'Heaven forgive me,' the merchant entreated, -'but how can I promise such a thing! Even were -I cruel enough to purchase my life at the cost of a -child, on what excuse could I bring her?'</p> - -<p>'No excuse is necessary,' replied the <i>Beast</i> -shortly. 'Whichever you bring must come here of -her own free will, or not at all. Go home and try -if there be one brave and loving enough to sacrifice -herself to save your life. You seem to be an honest -man. Give me your word to return here at the end -of a month and bring whichever of your daughters -you can persuade to come with you. If you can -persuade none of them, you must come alone; and -I warn you that, if you fail of it, I shall come and -fetch you.'</p> - -<p>What was the poor man to do? He promised, -for he saw death staring him in the face; and -having given his promise he hoped to be allowed to -depart. But the <i>Beast</i> informed him that he could -not go until next day.</p> - -<p>'Then,' said he, 'at daybreak you will find a -horse ready for you who will carry you home in less -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>than no time. Now go and eat your supper, and -await my commands.'</p> - -<p>The merchant, more dead than alive, crept back -to his rooms. There, before a blazing fire, he -found a delicious supper spread, inviting him to eat. -But so distraught was he, that no food, however -delicious, could have tempted him had he not been -afraid that the <i>Beast</i> might be hiding somewhere to -watch him. In fear of this he forced himself to sit -and taste of the dishes.</p> - -<p>A loud noise in the next room warned him that -the <i>Beast</i> was coming. Since he could not escape, -he mustered what courage he could to conceal his -terror, and faced about to the doorway.</p> - -<p>'Have you made a good supper?' was the -<i>Beast's</i> first question.</p> - -<p>The merchant in humblest voice answered that, -thanks to his host's kind attention, he had fared -excellently well.</p> - -<p>'I am paying you a visit,' said the <i>Beast</i>, 'to -warn you again to be honest with your daughter. -Describe me to her just as I am. Let her be free -to choose whether she will come or no; but tell her -that, her course once chosen, there can be no -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>retreat, nor even reflection after you have brought -her to me. To break faith then will avail nothing: -she will but destroy you without winning her own -release.'</p> - -<p>Again the spirit-broken merchant repeated his -promise.</p> - -<p>The <i>Beast</i> appeared to be content at length. -'Retire to bed now,' he commanded, 'and do not -get up to-morrow until you see the sun and hear a -golden bell rung. Then, before starting, you will -find breakfast laid for you here; your horse will be -standing ready saddled in the courtyard; and you -may carry back the rose to your daughter <i>Beauty</i>—as -you call her. For the rest, I count on seeing -you back in a month's time. So, farewell.'</p> - -<p>The merchant, who dared not disobey a single -one of these orders, retired to bed at once, though -without any temptation to sleep; and again, though -he passed a wretched night, he was punctual to rise -with the sun. A golden bell rang; and prompt on -the sound he found breakfast laid, still by unseen -hands. After breakfast he went down to the stables, -and on his way paused to pick up the rose, which -lay in the alley where it had dropped from his hand. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>It was fresh as ever, and smelt as sweetly as though -it yet grew on the tree.</p> - -<p>A few paces further on he found his horse -standing ready saddled, with a handsome cloak of -furs, far warmer than his own, lying across the -saddle. He put it on and mounted, and now he -had to wonder at yet another miracle. His horse -set off at an incredible speed, so that before he -could even turn in the saddle the palace had sunk -out of sight.</p> - -<p>Could the horse have felt the weight on the -good man's mind, it had never made such a pace. -But it took its own way, insensible to rein or bridle; -nor halted until it reached the door of the cottage.</p> - -<p>The merchant's sons and daughters had rushed -out at his approach; though it was not until he -drew quite close that they recognised their father in -this horseman superbly cloaked, with a rose at his -holster, and mounted on a horse that travelled at -such a speed. When they recognised him, they -made sure that he brought the best of news. But -the tears that trickled down his cheeks as he dismounted -told them another story.</p> - -<p>His first motion then was to pluck the fatal rose -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>from the pommel and hand it to <i>Beauty</i>, saying: -'Here is what you asked me to bring. You little -know what it will cost you all.'</p> - -<p>This, and his sorrowful look, gave the eldest -daughter her cue. 'I was certain of it!' she said. -'Did I not say, all along, that to force a rose at this -time of the year would cost you more than would -have bought presents for all the rest of us? A rose, -in mid-winter! and such a rose! There—one has -only to look at it to see that you took good care -<i>Beauty</i> should have her present, no matter at what -cost to us!'</p> - -<p>'It is all too true,' answered their father sorrowfully, -'that this rose has cost me dear—far dearer -than all the presents you others begged of me. -But the cost is not in money; for would to God -I could have bought it with the last penny in my -purse!'</p> - -<p>His speech, you may be sure, excited their -curiosity, and they gave him no rest until he had -told the whole of his story. It left their hopes -utterly dashed: and the daughters lamented their -lot, while their brothers hardily declared that they -would never allow their father to return to this -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>accursed castle—they would march thither in a -body and destroy the horrible <i>Beast</i> who owned it. -But their father assured them that he had given his -word and would rather die than break it.</p> - -<p>Thereat the sisters turned upon <i>Beauty</i> and -started to upbraid and rail against her.</p> - -<p>'It is all your fault,' they declared; 'and -this is what comes of your pretended modesty! -Why could you not have asked for dresses and -jewels as we did? Even if you could not get -them, at least the demand would have cost -nothing. But you chose to be singular—you, with -your precious rose! and now our father must die, -and we must all suffer through your affectation!'</p> - -<p>Poor <i>Beauty</i> controlled her tears and -answered them: 'Yes, I am to blame for all -this, though, indeed, dear sisters, I did it -innocently; for how could I guess that to ask -for a rose in the middle of summer, as it was -then, would give rise to all this misery? But -what does that matter? Innocent or guilty, I -cannot allow you to suffer for what was my -fault; and so I will go back with our father -to save him from his promise. That will be in -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>a month's time, and in this little month, I beg of -you, let us be happy together without reproaches.'</p> - -<p>At first her brothers would not hear of any such -sacrifice, and her father was equally set against it, -until the sisters again fired up in their jealousy and -accused him of being distressed only because it -happened to be <i>Beauty</i>; if another of his daughters -(they hinted) had offered to pay this price for his life, -he would have accepted it cheerfully enough!</p> - -<p><i>Beauty</i> closed this talk by saying firmly that, -whether they wished it or not, she would go—'And -who knows,' said she, forcing a brave smile, -'but this fate of mine, which seems so terrible, may -cover some extraordinary and happy fortune?' She -said it merely to hearten them; but her sisters, -fancying her deluded by vanity and self-conceit, -smiled maliciously and applauded. So their father -gave way, and it was agreed that <i>Beauty</i> must go. -For her part she desired only that the few days -remaining to her might be as happy as possible; -and so, as they passed she spoke little of what was -before her, and, if at all, only to treat it lightly and -as a piece of good fortune. When the time drew -near she shared up all her trinkets and little possessions -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>with her sisters—for, badly as they had treated -her, they were the only friends she had. Yet -jealousy had made their hearts so wicked that when -the fatal day arrived they actually rejoiced to hear -the neighing of a horse which, punctually sent by -the <i>Beast</i>, arrived at the door of the cottage.</p> - - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter"><a id="pl11"></a> -<a href="images/large_pl11.jpg"><img src="images/pl11.jpg" width="600" alt="" /></a> -</div> - -<p class="caption">Soon they caught sight of the castle in the distance.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>The brothers would have rushed out and slain -the beautiful animal; but <i>Beauty</i>, mastering their -anger with a few tender words, bade her father -mount into the saddle; and so, after bidding her -sisters farewell with a tenderness that forced them -to weep at the last, climbed to the pillion behind -him quite as if she were setting out for a holiday. -They were off! The horse seemed to fly rather -than to gallop; so smoothly that <i>Beauty</i> could -scarcely feel the motion save by the soft wind that -beat on her cheek. Soon they caught sight of the -castle in the distance. Her father, less happy than -she, again and again asked and begged her to alight -and return—a most idle offer, for he had no real -control of the reins. But <i>Beauty</i> did not listen, -because her mind was made up.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless, she was awed, and all the more -when, as the fleet horse galloped up to the courtyard, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>they were met by a great salvo of guns and, as the -echoes died away, by the sound of soft music -within the palace.</p> - -<p>The horse had come to a stop, by a flight of -agate steps; a light shone down these steps from -a porchway within which the violins kept their -throbbing. <i>Beauty</i> slipped down from the saddle, -and her father, alighting after her, took her by the -hand and led her to the chamber in which he had -first supped; where, sure enough, they found a -cheerful fire and a score of candles lit and burning -with an exquisite perfume, and—best of all—a table -laid with the daintiest of suppers.</p> - -<p>The merchant, accustomed to the ways of their -host, knew that the supper was meant for them, and -<i>Beauty</i> fell-to with a good appetite. Her spirits -indeed were rising. There had been no sign of any -<i>Beast</i> in all the many rooms through which she had -passed, and everything in them had seemed to breathe -of gaiety and good living.</p> - -<p>But this happy frame of mind did not last long. -They had scarcely finished supper when the <i>Beast</i> -was heard coming through the distant rooms. At -the sound—the heavy padding of his feet, the roar -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>of his breath—<i>Beauty</i> clung to her father in terror, -and had almost fainted against the arm which he -flung around her. But when the <i>Beast</i> 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 <i>Beast</i>. 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):—</p> - -<p>'Good evening, my good sir! Good evening, -<i>Beauty</i>!'</p> - -<p>The merchant was too far terrified to find his -voice; but <i>Beauty</i> controlled hers and answered -sweetly:—</p> - -<p>'Good evening, <i>Beast</i>!'</p> - -<p>'Have you come here of your own free will?' -asked the <i>Beast</i>. 'And are you willing to let your -father return and leave you here?'</p> - -<p><i>Beauty</i> answered that she was quite willing.</p> - -<p>'Indeed? And yet what do you suppose will -happen to you after he has gone?'</p> - -<p>'Sir,' said <i>Beauty</i>, 'that is as it pleases you, and -you only can tell.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>'Well answered,' replied the <i>Beast</i>; 'and since -you have come of your own accord, you shall stay. -As for you, my good sir,' said he to the merchant, -'you will take your departure at sunrise. The -bell will give you warning; delay not to rise, eat -your breakfast, and depart as before. But remember -that you are forbidden ever to come within sight of -my palace again.'</p> - -<p>Then, turning to <i>Beauty</i>, he said:—</p> - -<p>'Take your father into the next room, and choose -between you everything you think will please your -brothers and sisters. You will find there two travelling -trunks: fill them as full as they will hold.'</p> - -<p>Sorrowful as she was at the certainty of losing -her father so soon and for ever, <i>Beauty</i> made ready -to obey the <i>Beast's</i> orders, and he left them as he -had come, saying:—</p> - -<p>'Good night, <i>Beauty</i>! Good night, good sir!'</p> - -<p>When they were alone, <i>Beauty</i> and her father -went into the next room, which proved to be a -store-chamber piled with treasures a king and -queen might have envied. After choosing and -setting apart in heaps,—one for each of her sisters,—the -most magnificent dresses she could find, <i>Beauty</i> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>opened a cupboard which had a door of crystal -framed in gold, and stood for a moment dazzled by -the precious stones that lay piled on every shelf. -After choosing a vast number and adding them to -her heaps, she opened yet another wardrobe and -found it full of money in gold pieces. This set her -pondering.</p> - -<p>'I think, father,' she said, 'that we had better -empty these trunks again, and fill them with -money. For money can always be turned to -account, whereas to sell these precious stones you -would have to go to some jeweller, who very likely -would cheat you, and perhaps be suspicious of -them. But with these pieces of gold you can buy -land, houses, furniture, jewels—what you will—and -no one will ask any questions.'</p> - -<p>Her father agreed. Yet he first of all tried to -make room for the money by emptying out the few -things he had packed for himself. But this was no -good: for it seemed that the trunks were made in -folds which opened the wider the more he put in. -Somehow the more they packed, the more room -there seemed to be, and they ended by replacing all -the dresses and precious stones they had taken out. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>But now the trunks were so heavy that an elephant -would have sunk under them.</p> - -<p>'It is all a cheat!' cried the merchant. The -<i>Beast</i> is mocking us, and only pretended to give -us these things, knowing that I could not carry -them away.'</p> - -<p>'Wait a little,' advised <i>Beauty</i>. 'That would -be a sorry jest, and I cannot help thinking that the -<i>Beast</i> is honest; and that since he offered these -gifts he will find you also the means to carry them. -The best thing we can do is to strap up the trunks -and leave them ready here.'</p> - -<p>So they did this and went back to the little -room, where to their amazement they found a breakfast -laid on the table. For a moment they could -scarcely believe that the night had flown by whilst -they were occupied in ransacking the treasure -chamber and packing the trunks. But, glancing at -the windows, they saw that day was indeed breaking; -and presently a bell sounded, warning the -merchant to eat quickly and depart.</p> - -<p>He finished his meal, and they went down -together to the courtyard, where two horses stood -ready—the one laden with the two trunks, the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>other saddled for the merchant to ride. And now -<i>Beauty</i> and her father would fain have spent a long -time in bidding one another farewell. But the two -horses neighed and pawed the ground so impatiently -that he was afraid to linger. Tearing himself from -his daughter's arms he mounted in haste, and could -scarcely turn to say good-bye before both horses -sprang away swift as the wind and he was lost to -sight in an instant.</p> - -<p>Poor <i>Beauty</i>! She gazed and gazed through -her tears, and so mounted the stairs sorrowfully back -to her own chamber. On reaching it she felt herself -oppressed with sleepiness, for she had passed -the night without undressing, and, moreover, for a -month past her sleep had been broken and haunted -with terrors. So, having nothing better to do, she -went to bed, and was nestling down in the perfumed -sheets when her eyes fell on the little table by the -bedside. Some one had set a cup of hot chocolate -there, and, half asleep, she reached out her hand for -it and drank it; whereupon her eyes closed and -she fell into a delicious slumber, such as she had -not known since the day when her father brought -home the fatal rose.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>She dreamed that she was walking alongside an -endless canal, the banks of which were bordered -with tall orange-trees and myrtles in flower. There, -as she wandered disconsolately lamenting her fate, -of a sudden a young <i>Prince</i> stood before her. He -was handsome as the God of Love in picture-books, -and when he spoke it was with a voice that went -straight to her heart. 'Dear <i>Beauty</i>,' he said, 'you -are not so unfortunate as you suppose. It is here -you shall find the reward of your goodness, denied -to you elsewhere. Use your wits to find me out -under the disguise which hides me—that is, if as I -stand here now you find me not altogether contemptible. -For I love you tenderly—you alone—and -in making me happy you can attain to your own -happiness. Beloved, never distrust your own true -heart, and it shall lead you where the heart has -nothing left to desire!' So saying, the charming -apparition knelt at her feet, and again besought her -to accept his devotion and become mistress over all -his life.</p> - -<p>'Ah! What can I do to make you happy?' -she asked earnestly.</p> - -<p>'Only be grateful,' he answered, 'and do not -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>believe all that your eyes would tell you. Above -all, do not abandon me until you have rescued me -from the cruel sufferings I endure.'</p> - -<p>With that the dream melted away, but only to -be succeeded by another. She found herself face to -face with a stately and beautiful lady; and the lady -was speaking to her with dignity, yet most kindly.</p> - -<p>'Dear <i>Beauty</i>,' she said, 'do not grieve for what -you have left behind; a far higher destiny lies before -you. Only, if you would deserve it, beware of being -misled by appearances.'</p> - -<p><i>Beauty</i> found her dreams so agreeable that she -was in no hurry at all to awake, and even when her -eyes opened to the daylight she had more than half -a mind to close them again. But a clock, chiming -out her own name twelve times, warned her that it -was midday and time to get up. She rose, therefore, -and found her dressing-table set out with -brushes and combs and everything she could want; -and having dressed carefully, and with a lightness of -heart for which she found it hard to account, she -passed into the next room and found her dinner on -the table.</p> - -<p>Dinner does not take very long when you are -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>all by yourself. <i>Beauty</i>, when she had eaten enough, -sat down on a sofa and began to think of the handsome -youth she had seen in her dream. 'He told -me I could make him happy. Why, then, it must -be that the horrible <i>Beast</i>, who appears to be master -here, is keeping him a prisoner. How can I set -him free?... They both warned me not to trust -to appearances. It is all very puzzling.... But -one thing is clear at any rate, that I am very silly to -be vexing my head over a dream. I will forget all -about it, and look for something to do to amuse -myself.'</p> - -<p>She sprang up, and started to make a tour of -discovery through the many rooms of the palace. -They were even grander than she had expected. -The first she entered was lined with mirrors from -floor to ceiling, where she saw herself reflected on -every side. The next thing to catch her eye was -a bracelet, hanging from one of the chandeliers. -Set in the bracelet was a gold locket, and opening -this she was startled indeed; for it contained a -portrait in miniature of the gallant youth she had -seen in her dream. She could not be mistaken; so -closely were his features engraved on her memory—yes, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>and, it may be, on her heart. She slipped -the bracelet on her wrist, without stopping to think -that it did not belong to her, and went on to explore -further. She passed into a long picture -gallery, and there again she met the <i>Prince's</i> face. -It smiled down at her, this time from a life-sized -portrait, and it seemed to smile so wistfully that she -caught herself blushing.</p> - -<p>From the gallery her steps had led her to a -chamber filled with instruments of music. <i>Beauty</i> -was an accomplished musician; so, sitting down, -she amused herself by tuning and trying over one -instrument after another; but she liked the harp -best because that went best with her voice.</p> - -<p>Leaving the music-room at length, she found -herself in a long chamber like the picture gallery, -but lined with books. It held an immense library; -and <i>Beauty</i>, ever since she had lived in the country, -had been forced to do without reading, for her -father had sold all his books to pay his debts. -Now, as her eyes travelled along the shelves, she -knew she need never have any fear that time would -pass heavily here. The dusk was gathering before -she had half-studied even the titles of the thousands -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>of volumes; and numbers of candles, waxen and -scented, in chandeliers with lustres of diamonds -and rubies, were beginning to light themselves in -every room.</p> - -<p>In due time <i>Beauty</i> found supper laid and -served for her, with the same good taste and -orderliness as before, and still she had seen no -living face. What did this matter? Her father -had warned her that she would be solitary; and -she was beginning to tell herself that she could be -solitary here without much discomfort, when she -heard the noise of the <i>Beast</i> approaching. She -could not help trembling a little; for she had not -yet found herself alone with him, and knew not -what would happen—he might even be coming -to devour her. But when he appeared he did not -seem at all ferocious.</p> - -<p>'Good evening, <i>Beauty</i>,' he said gruffly.</p> - -<p>'Good evening, <i>Beast</i>,' she answered gently, -but shaking a little.</p> - -<p>'Do you think you can be content here?' he -asked.</p> - -<p><i>Beauty</i> answered politely that it ought not to -be hard to live happily in such a beautiful palace.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>After this they talked for an hour, and in the -course of their talk <i>Beauty</i> began to excuse many -things in the <i>Beast</i>—his voice, for example. With -such a nose how could he help roaring through -it? Really, he appeared to be wanting in tact -rather than purposely terrible; though, to be sure, -this want of tact terrified her cruelly, when at length -he blurted out:—</p> - -<p>'Will you be my wife, <i>Beauty</i>?'</p> - -<p>'Ah! I am lost!' thought <i>Beauty</i>. The <i>Beast</i> -could not be so dull-witted after all, for, though -she kept the cry to herself, he answered quickly, -and just as if she had uttered it aloud:—</p> - -<p>'Not at all. I wish you to answer just "yes" -or "no."'</p> - -<p>'Oh! no, <i>Beast</i>.'</p> - -<p>'Very well, then,' said this tractable monster. -'Since you will not, I had best be going. Good -night, <i>Beauty</i>.'</p> - -<p>'Good night, <i>Beast</i>,' answered <i>Beauty</i>, relieved -of her fright. She felt sure now that he did not -mean to hurt her, and as soon as he had taken his -leave she went off to bed, and was asleep in no -time.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>But almost as quickly she was dreaming, and -in her dream at once she saw her unknown lover -standing beside her, handsome as ever, but more -sorrowful than before.</p> - -<p>'Dear <i>Beauty</i>,' he said, 'why are you so cruel to -me? I love you the better for being so stubborn, -and yet it lengthens out my misery.'</p> - -<p>She could not understand this at all. Her -dream wavered and it seemed to her that he took -a hundred different shapes in it. Now he had a -crown between his hands and was offering it to -her; now he was kneeling at her feet; now he -smiled, radiant with joy; and again he buried his -head in despair and wept till the sound of his -sobbing pierced her heart. Thus, in one aspect -or another, he was with her the night through. -She awoke with him in her thoughts, and her first -act was to unclasp the locket on her wrist and -assure herself that the miniature was like him. -It certainly was the same face, and his, too, was -the face that smiled down from the larger portrait -in the gallery. But the face in the locket gave -her a more secret joy and she unclasped and gazed -on it again and again.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>This morning she went down into the gardens, -where the sun shone inviting her to ramble. They -were beyond imagination lovely. Here stood a -statue showered over with roses; there fountain -on fountain played and threw a refreshing spray -so high in the air that her eyes could scarcely -reach to its summit. But what most surprised -her was that every nook and corner recalled those -she had seen in her dreams with the unknown -<i>Prince</i> standing beside her. At length she came -to the long canal with the oranges and myrtles -in the shade of which she had first seen him -approach. It was the very spot, and she could no -longer disbelieve that her dreams were real. She -felt sure, now, that he must somehow be imprisoned -here, and resolved to get at the truth -that very evening, should the <i>Beast</i> repeat his visit.</p> - -<p>Tired at length of wandering, she returned to -the palace and discovered a new room full of -materials for work to engage the most idle—tape-bags, -distaffs and shuttles, frames for tapestry, -ribbons to make into bows, silks for embroidery, -scissors, and thimbles. Beyond this needlework -room a door opened upon the most wonderful -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>sight of all—an aviary full of the rarest birds, yet -all so tame that they flew to <i>Beauty</i>, and perched -themselves on her shoulders.</p> - -<p>'Dear birds,' she said, 'I wish you were closer -to my own room, that I might sit and hear you -singing.'</p> - -<p>She had scarcely said it when, opening a door -beyond the aviary, she found herself in her own -chamber—yes, her very own!—which she had -thought to be quite on the other side of the -building. The door, when she came to examine -it, had a shutter which could be opened to hear, -and closed again when she grew tired of it. -This aviary opened on another inhabited by -parrots, parroquets, and cockatoos. These no -sooner saw <i>Beauty</i> than they began to scream and -chatter; one wishing her 'Good morning,' another -inviting her to luncheon, while a third yet more -gallant cried 'Kiss me! Kiss me!' Others again -whistled airs from grand opera or declaimed -pieces of poetry by the best authors. It was -plain that in their several ways they all had the -same object—to amuse her.</p> - -<p>Beyond the aviaries lay a monkey house. Here -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>were apes of all sorts—Barbary apes, mandarin -apes, apes with blue faces, baboons, marmosets, -chimpanzees—and all came frisking about her, -bowing and scraping, to show how much they -appreciated the honour of this visit. To celebrate -it they stretched a tight-rope and danced, and -threw somersaults with an agility which <i>Beauty</i> -found highly diverting; and yet she could not -help sighing that none of these animals were able -to tell her news of her unknown <i>Prince Charming</i>. -She patted and made much of them, however, and -asked if some of them would be kind enough to -come with her and keep her company.</p> - -<p>At once, and as if they had only been waiting -for this command, two large she-apes in sweeping -court-dresses stepped to her side and became her -maids of honour; two brisk little marmosets -volunteered for pages and held up her train; -while an affable baboon, his face wreathed with -smiles, bowed, presented a gloved hand, and -begged leave to squire her. With this singular -escort <i>Beauty</i> marched back to luncheon, and -while she ate it the birds piped and fluted around -her for accompaniment to the parrots, who lifted -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>up their voices and chanted the latest and most -fashionable tunes. Nay more; the meal was no -sooner ended than the apes begged her to allow -them to entertain her with a light comedy; which -(leave being granted) they proceeded to act in a -highly creditable manner and with appropriate -dumb-show, while the parrots spoke the words -from the wings very distinctly and in accents that -exactly conformed with the various parts. At the -close one of the actors advanced, laid his hand -on his heart and—still with the parrot for interpreter—thanked -<i>Beauty</i> for the indulgence she had -shown to their poor efforts.</p> - -<p>That night again, after supper, the <i>Beast</i> paid -her his accustomed visit. He put the same questions, -and received her answers as before; and, as -before, the conversation ended by his taking leave -of her with a 'Good night, <i>Beauty</i>.' The two -she-apes, as ladies-in-waiting, thereupon undressed -their mistress and saw her to bed. Before leaving -they thoughtfully opened the window-shutter, that -the soft night-warbling of the birds might soothe -her to sleep and dream of her lover.</p> - -<p>In this fashion day followed day, and still -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span><i>Beauty</i> found plenty to amuse her. At the end -of a week she made the most wonderful discovery -of all. There was one large room which she had -entered but once, because it seemed to her rather -dull, and dark too. It was empty; and although -it had four windows in each wall, but two of them -admitted any light. One day, as she passed the -door, the fancy took her to open one of these -windows. She stepped in and drew the shutter, -when to her astonishment it opened, not upon -daylight at all, but what seemed to be a dim hall -lit only by a glimmer, distant and faint, behind the -chinks of a thick curtain at the further end. She -was wondering what this might mean, when the -curtain went up and in a sudden flood of light -she found herself gazing, as from a box, into a -theatre crowded from floor to ceiling, and with an -audience brilliant in dresses and jewels.</p> - -<p>An orchestra played the overture, and gave -place to the actors—real actors this time, not apes -and parrots. The play was charming, and <i>Beauty</i> -in ecstasy with every scene of it. When the -curtain fell she still lingered in her box, hoping to -see the fashionable crowd disperse; but somewhat -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>to her chagrin the lights went out almost at once -and the theatre was dark again. Still it had been -very pleasant, and she promised herself to become -a constant playgoer.</p> - -<p>That evening when the <i>Beast</i> paid his visit, she -told him all about the comedy. 'Eh? You like -that sort of thing, do you?' asked the monster. -'Well, you shall have as much of it as you like. -You are so pretty.' <i>Beauty</i> could not help smiling -inwardly at his clumsy compliments. But she -smiled no longer when he put to her once again his -blunt question:—</p> - -<p>'<i>Beauty</i>, will you be my wife?'</p> - -<p>'No, <i>Beast</i>,' she answered as before; but she -was really beginning to get frightened, he was so -gentle and so persistent. She sat up so long -thinking over this that it was almost daylight -before she closed her eyes in bed; and at once, -as if impatient at being kept waiting, the lover of -her dreams presented himself. Perhaps for this -reason he was not in the best of tempers; at -any rate he taxed her with being moody and -discontented.</p> - -<p>'I should be happy enough,' she answered, 'if -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>the <i>Beast</i> did not pester me so. I—I almost -think, by his foolish compliments, that he would -like me to marry him.' <i>Beauty</i> expected her dream-lover -to show some jealousy at this; seeing that he -merely stood glum, she went on, 'Would you -really be content if I married him?... but alas! -no; were he as charming as he is hideous, you -know that I love you and can never love any one -else.' By all rights the <i>Prince</i> should have been in -raptures at this avowal; but all his answer was: -'Dearest, love him who best loves you. Do not be -led astray by appearances, and so you will free me -from captivity. 'This was not only puzzling; it -seemed to <i>Beauty</i> to be just a little selfish. 'At -least,' she said, 'tell me what to do! Since liberty -appears to be your first wish, believe me, I would -liberate you at any sacrifice, if only I knew how.' -But this was what she could never discover; and -because of it her nights now, though she longed for -them, troubled her more than her days.</p> - -<p>Her days passed pleasantly enough, and still in -fresh discoveries. One by one in their turn she -opened the windows of the great hall, and they -revealed:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>First, a grand performance of Opera; and she -listened not to the singers only, but to the murmur -of the audience between the acts. To listen to this -and to gaze on human faces, gave her an inexpressible -pleasure.</p> - -<p>Next, a great Fair in progress. When first she -looked the throng had not arrived and she inspected -the booths at leisure, with their various wares. As -the spectators drifted in, the drums began to beat, -the hobby horses to revolve, the showmen to shout, -the marionettes to perform in their little theatre. -It was ravishing.</p> - -<p>After this she beheld a fashionable promenade, -with a richly dressed crowd passing, re-passing, -exchanging good-days, remarking how superb was -the weather, and pausing to con and criticise the -shop windows to right and left.</p> - -<p>The next spectacle was a gaming-room, with the -players seated at their cards or roulette, the -croupiers spinning the ball or raking the money. -<i>Beauty</i>, with nothing to stake, had leisure to -observe their faces, and how sadly some left the -tables who had come smiling with money in their -pockets. She saw, too, that some were being -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>cheated; and it vexed her, because she could not -warn them.</p> - -<p>Next, she was gazing at the Royal Palace, -where the King and Queen were holding a reception. -She saw ambassadors with their wives, lords -and ladies and state counsellors; and watched -them as they passed by the throne making their -lowest bows.</p> - -<p>A water picnic followed this. The boats lay -moored alongside a bank where the merry-makers -sat or lounged and talked to the sound of lutes.</p> - -<p>The picnic ended in a ball, with violins playing -and couples advancing and retreating on the waxed -floor that shone in the light of a thousand -candles. Oh, how <i>Beauty</i> longed to be one of -the dancers!</p> - -<p>But perhaps the last window gave her the most -pleasure. For through it she was able to see the -whole world at one gaze and all that was going on -in it. State embassies, royal weddings, coronations, -pageants, armies, revolutions, sieges, pitched battles—she -could sit at her ease and watch them all, -which was far more amusing than it is to read about -them in a newspaper.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>She ought, you will say, to have been happy as -the day was long. But no: a life becomes flat and -stale which is a perpetual round of pleasure and -leaves nothing to sigh or to hope for. <i>Beauty</i> -began to long for a sight of her father and her -brothers and sisters. She concealed this for a while, -however, and turned her thoughts to what was more -pressing; for she could not beg leave to go home -until something had been done to rescue her dear -Unknown and restore him to liberty. The <i>Beast</i> -alone (she reflected) could tell her the secret; and -she thought to herself that, being himself so blunt -of speech, he would forgive some bluntness in -her. So one evening she asked him point-blank: -'<i>Beast</i>, are we alone in this palace, with nobody -but ourselves?'</p> - -<p>'Of course we are,' he answered gruffly; but -the question appeared in some way to sting him, -for almost at once he rose and bade her good -night.</p> - -<p>Now <i>Beauty</i>, whatever else she thought of the -<i>Beast</i>, had by this time learnt to trust him for -honest. It was a dreadful disappointment, therefore, -to be forced to believe on his word that her -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span><i>Prince Charming</i> had no existence outside of her -fancy. She slept ill that night. In her dream she -was wandering again and sorrowfully alongside the -canal when her lover appeared and took her hands -between his while he scanned her face all bathed in -tears.</p> - -<p>'What has gone wrong, dear <i>Beauty</i>?' he -demanded. 'Why are you in this distress?... -Ah, it is the <i>Beast</i> who persecutes you! But, -never fear, you shall be delivered here and now from -his attention'—and with these words the <i>Prince</i> -snatched out a dagger and rushed on the monster, -who now for the first time came into the dream, -advancing slowly down the bank of the canal. -Strange to say, he offered no resistance even when -the dagger almost touched his throat. But <i>Beauty</i>, -whom an unseen power held back as she would -have run to prevent the murder, on the instant -found voice to cry, 'Stay! Stay, rash fool! or kill -me before you kill him who has been my best -friend!' 'Friend?' answered back the <i>Prince</i>, still -with his dagger lifted; 'and am I no more than -that?' 'You are an unfaithful one, at any rate,' -persisted <i>Beauty</i>; 'if, knowing well that I would -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>lay down my life for you, you would take the life -of one who has done me so much kindness. 'But -while she pleaded the figures wavered in her dream, -still struggling together, and vanished, giving place -to the same stately lady she had seen in her former -vision. 'Courage, <i>Beauty</i>!' said this fresh phantom; -'your happiness is not far off, if only you -will go your own way and trust not to appearances.'</p> - -<p>This dream left <i>Beauty</i> so uneasy that next day -she opened one window after another to cure her -restlessness; and, when this would not do, all the -windows together; but still in vain. That night, -when the Beast paid his usual visit, he detected -almost at once that she had been weeping, and -demanded the reason.</p> - -<p>'Ah, sir,' said <i>Beauty</i>, 'if only I might go -home!'</p> - -<p>'You wish to go home? 'The <i>Beast's</i> face -turned pale—which, for such a face, was no easy -matter. He staggered backwards with a deep sigh, -or rather, a roar of grief. 'Ah, <i>Beauty</i>, <i>Beauty</i>! -Would you desert a poor <i>Beast</i>? What more can -I do to make you happy? Or is it because you -hate me, that you wish to be gone?'</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter"><a id="pl12"></a> -<a href="images/large_pl12.jpg"><img src="images/pl12.jpg" width="600" alt="" /></a> -</div> - -<p class="caption">Ah! what a fright you have given me! -she murmured.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>'No, <i>Beast</i>,' answered <i>Beauty</i> gently; 'I do -not hate you, and I should be very sorry never to -see you again. But I do long to see my own -people. Let me go home for two months only, -and I promise to come back and stay with you for -the rest of my life.'</p> - -<p>The <i>Beast</i> had fallen flat and lay along the -carpet at her feet. His eyes were closed, and for -some while his heavy sighs alone told her that he -was neither dead nor in a swoon. By and by he -lifted his head:—</p> - -<p>'I can deny you nothing,' he said sadly. 'But -no matter, though it cost me my life.... In the -room next to your bedroom you will find four -chests: fill them with everything you would like -to take with you. Be sure to keep your word; for -if you break it and come back to find your poor -<i>Beast</i> dead, you will be sorry when it is too late. -Come back at the end of two months and you will -find me alive; and to come back you will not need -chariot or horses. Only say good-bye, that night, -to your father, and brothers, and sisters; and, when -you are in-bed, turn this ring round on your finger -and say firmly: "I wish to go back to my palace -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>and see my <i>Beast</i> again." That is all. Good night, -<i>Beauty!</i> Sleep soundly, and in good time you shall -see your father once more.'</p> - -<p>As soon as he was gone <i>Beauty</i> set to work to -fill the four boxes with all the riches and finery -that heart could desire. She filled them to the -brim; and then, tired out, she went to bed. But -for a long while she could not close her eyes for -excitement. It was not until close upon sunrise -that sleep visited her and, with it, another dream. -In this dream she saw her beloved Unknown -stretched at full length on a bank of turf. His face -was hidden, and she could hear that he was sobbing. -But when, touched by the sight of his grief, she -drew near to console him, he lifted his face to her -and said:—</p> - -<p>'Cruel <i>Beauty</i>, how can you ask what ails me? -when you are leaving me, and your going is my -death warrant!'</p> - -<p>'But, dearest <i>Prince</i>,' said <i>Beauty</i>, 'I am only -going to tell my father and brothers and sisters -that I am well and happy. In a short while I -shall be back, never to leave you again.... But, -for that matter,' she went on as a new thought -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>struck her, 'why should we be separated at all? I -will put off my going for another day, and to-morrow -I will beg the <i>Beast</i> to let you go with me. -I am sure he will not refuse.'</p> - -<p>'I can only go with you, if you promise me -never to come back,' replied the <i>Prince</i>. 'And, -after all, when you have once delivered me, why -should we ever come back? The <i>Beast</i> will be -hurt in his feelings and very angry no doubt; but -by that time we shall be beyond his power.'</p> - -<p>'You forget,' <i>Beauty</i> reminded him sharply, -'that I have promised him to return, and that, -moreover, he says he will die of grief if I break my -word.'</p> - -<p>'And what if he does?' demanded her lover. -'Is not your happiness worth more than the life of -a monster? Of what use is he in the world except -to frighten folks out of their wits?'</p> - -<p>'Ah, you do not understand!' cried <i>Beauty</i>. -'This monster—as you call him—is only a monster -in his face, and through no fault of his. He has -the kindest heart in the world, and how could I be -so ungrateful after all he has done for me!'</p> - -<p>'I believe,' said her lover bitterly, 'that if you -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>saw us fighting, of the two you would rather let -me perish than this <i>Beast</i> of yours.'</p> - -<p><i>Beauty</i> told him that he was cruel and unjust, -and begged him to talk of something else. She set -the example, too. Seeing that he was piqued and -proud, she addressed a long speech to him, full of -endearments, to win him back to a good humour, -and was growing astonished at her own eloquence -when, in the middle of it, she awoke.</p> - -<p>Her last words seemed to mingle with the sound -of familiar voices. She sprang out of bed and drew -her curtain.... It was very strange! As the -sunlight poured in she saw that she was in a room -much more poorly furnished than that in which she -had fallen asleep. She dressed in haste, and opening -the door, found that the next room too was like -no apartment in the <i>Beast's</i> palace. But at her -feet stood the four chests she had packed overnight; -and, while she marvelled, again she heard a voice -talking, and ran towards it. For it was her -father's.</p> - -<p>She rushed out and fell into his arms. He, -poor man, stared at her as though she had sprung -from another world, and the others were no less -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>astonished. Her brothers embraced her with transports -of joy, while her sisters—who, to tell the -truth, had not overcome their jealousy—pretended -to be quite as glad. They plied her with a thousand -questions, which she answered very good-naturedly, -putting aside her own impatience; for she too had -a number of questions to ask. To begin with, this -house of theirs was not the cottage in which she -had left them, but a fine new one her father had -been able to buy with the <i>Beast's</i> presents. If not -wealthy, he was in easy circumstances; with the -bettering of their fortunes his sisters had found other -wooers and were soon to be married; and altogether -<i>Beauty</i> had the satisfaction of knowing that she had -at least brought prosperity back to her family. 'As -for you, my dearest child,' said the merchant, 'when -your sisters are married, you shall keep house for -your brothers and me, and so my old age will be -happy.'</p> - -<p>This was all very well, but <i>Beauty</i> had to tell -her father that she must leave him again in two -months' time; whereat he broke out into lamentations. -'Dear father,' said the sensible girl, 'it is -good of you to weep; but it is useless, and I would -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>rather have your advice, which is sure to be -useful.' Thereupon she told him all the story. -Her father considered for a while, and then said:—</p> - -<p>'I can only give you the same counsel that, by -your own admission, you are always receiving from -these phantoms of your dreams. "Do not trust to -appearance," they say, and "Be guided by your -heart's gratitude"; and they tell you this over and -over again. What can it mean, child, but one -thing? The <i>Beast</i>, you say, is frightful. His appearance -is certainly against him. Then judge him -rather by the gratitude which you certainly owe -him. It is plain that he has a good heart—"handsome -is as handsome does"—it is clear to me that -these phantoms would have you say "Yes" to the -<i>Beast</i>, and I too advise you to consent.'</p> - -<p><i>Beauty</i> saw the wisdom of this and knew very -well that her father was counselling her for the -best. Nevertheless it needed something more than -this to reconcile her with marrying a monster, -and she felt relieved at the thought that for two -whole months she could put off deciding. Strange -to say, as the days went by and the time of her -departure drew nearer, she found herself looking -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>forward to it rather than repining. For one thing -distressed her and spoilt all her happiness—she -never dreamed at all now.</p> - -<p>The days went by, and as they drew to an end -her brothers and even her father (forgetting his -former good counsel) employed all persuasions to -hinder her departure. But her mind was made up; -and when the two months were passed she was -resolute on everything but the hour of her parting. -Every morning, when she got up, she meant to say -good-bye, but somehow another night came and the -farewells were still unspoken.</p> - -<p>She reproached herself (as well she might), and -was still thus cruelly torn between two minds, when -one night a dream visited her—the first for two -months and more.</p> - -<p>She dreamed that she was back at the <i>Beast's</i> -palace, and wandering by a lonely path in the -gardens which ended in a tangle of brushwood -overhanging a cave. As she drew nearer she -heard a terrible groaning, and running in haste -she found the <i>Beast</i> stretched there on the point -of death. Still in her dream she was bending -over him when the stately lady stepped forth from -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>the bushes and addressed her in a tone of grave -reproach:—</p> - -<p>'I doubt, <i>Beauty</i>, if even now you have come -in time. Cruel, cruel of you to delay! when your -delay has brought him so near to death!'</p> - -<p>Terrified by this dream <i>Beauty</i> awoke in her -bed with a start. 'I have done wickedly!' she -cried. 'Am I too late? Oh, indeed I hope not!' -She turned the ring upon her finger and said aloud -in a firm voice: '<i>I wish to go back to my palace -and see my Beast again!</i>'</p> - -<p>With that she at once fell asleep, and only woke -up to hear the clock chiming, '<i>Beauty, Beauty,</i>' -twelve times on the musical note she so well -remembered. She was back, then, at the palace. -Yes, and—oh, joy!—her faithful apes and parrots -were gathered around the bed, wishing her good -morning!</p> - -<p>But none of them could tell her any news of -the <i>Beast</i>. They were here to serve her, and all -their thoughts ended with their duty. Their good -master—the lord of this splendid palace—what was -he to them? At any rate nothing was to be learnt -from them, and <i>Beauty</i> was no sooner dressed than -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>she broke away impatiently, wandering through the -house and the gardens to fill up the time until evening -should bring his accustomed visit. But it was -hard work filling up the time. She went into the -great hall and resolutely opened the windows one by -one. The shows were there as before; but opera and -comedy, fête and pageant, held no meaning for her: -the players were listless, the music was null, the -processions passed before her eyes but had lost -their power to amuse.</p> - -<p>Supper-time came at length; but when after -supper the minutes passed and passed and still no -<i>Beast</i> appeared, then indeed <i>Beauty</i> was frightened. -For a long while she waited, listened, told herself -this and that, and finally in a terror rushed down -into the gardens to seek for him. The alleys were -dark; the bushes daunted her with their black -shadows; but still up and down ran poor <i>Beauty</i>, -calling to the <i>Beast</i>, and calling in vain.</p> - -<p>She was drenched with the dew, utterly lost -and weary, when, after three hours, pausing for a -moment's rest, she saw before her the same solitary -path she had seen in her dream: and there in the -moonlight she almost stumbled over the <i>Beast</i>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>He lay there, stretched at full length and asleep—or -so she thought. So glad was she to have -found him that she knelt and stroked his head, -calling him by name over and over. But his flesh -was cold beneath her hand, nor did he move or -open his eyes.</p> - -<p>'Ah, he is dead!' she cried, aghast.</p> - -<p>But she put a hand over his heart, and to her -inexpressible joy she felt that it was still beating. -Hastily she ran to a fountain near by, and dipping -water into her palms from its basin she ran and -sprinkled it on his face, coaxing him with tender -words as his eyes opened, and slowly—very slowly—he -came to himself.</p> - -<p>'Ah! what a fright you have given me!' she -murmured. 'Dear <i>Beast</i>, I never knew how I loved -you until I feared that you were dead—yes, dead, -and through my fault! But I believe, if you had -died, I should have died too.'</p> - -<p>'<i>Beauty</i>,' said the <i>Beast</i> faintly, 'you are very -good if indeed you can love such an ugly brute as -I am. It is true that I was dying for you, and -should have died if you had not come. I thought -you had forsaken me. But are you sure?'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>'Sure of what?' asked <i>Beauty</i>.</p> - -<p>'That you love me?'</p> - -<p>'Let us go back to supper,' said <i>Beauty</i>, raising -his head.</p> - -<p>'Yes, let us go back to supper, 'agreed the -<i>Beast</i>, lifting himself heavily on her arm. He still -leaned on her, as they walked back to the palace -together. But the supper—which they found laid -for two—seemed to revive him, and in his old -stupid way he asked her about the time she had -spent at home, and if her father and brothers and -sisters had been glad to see her.</p> - -<p><i>Beauty</i>, though weary enough after her search -through the park and gardens, brisked herself up -to tell of all that had happened to her in her -absence. The <i>Beast</i> sat nodding his head and -listening in his old dull way—which somehow -seemed to her the most comfortable way in the -world. At length he rose to go. But at the doorway -he put the old blunt question.</p> - -<p>'<i>Beauty</i>, will you marry me?'</p> - -<p>'Yes, dear <i>Beast</i>,' said <i>Beauty</i>; and as she said -it a blaze of light filled the room. A salvo of -artillery sounded, a moment later, from the park. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>Bang, bang! fireworks shot across the windows of the -palace; sky rockets and Roman candles exploded and -a magnificent set-piece wrote across the darkness in -letters of fire—'<span class="smcap">long live beauty and the beast!</span>'</p> - -<p><i>Beauty</i> turned to ask what all these rejoicings -might mean; and, with that, she gave a cry. The -<i>Beast</i> had vanished, and in his place stood the -beloved <i>Prince</i> of her dreams! He smiled and -stretched out his hands to her. Scarcely knowing -what she did, she was stretching hers, to take them, -when above the banging of fireworks in the avenues -there sounded a rolling of wheels. It drew to the -porch, and presently there entered the stately lady -she had seen in her dreams. It was the very same; -and, all astounded as she was, <i>Beauty</i> did reverence -to her.</p> - -<p>But the stately lady was as eager to do reverence -to <i>Beauty</i>. 'Best and dearest,' said she, 'my -son is going to love you always; as how should he -not, seeing that by your courage you have rescued -him from the enchantment under which he has lain -so long, and have restored him to his natural form? -But suffer also his mother, a Queen, to bless you!'</p> - -<p><i>Beauty</i> turned again to her lover and saw that -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>he, who had been a <i>Beast</i>, was indeed the <i>Prince</i> of -her dreams and handsomer than the day. So they -were married and lived happy ever after; nay, so -happy were they that all over the world folks told -one another and set down in writing this wonderful -history of <i>Beauty and the Beast</i>.</p> - - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i11">MORAL<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Maidens, from this tale of</i> Beauty<br /></span> -<span class="i2"><i>Learn, and in your memory write—</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Daily leads a Path of Duty</i><br /></span> -<span class="i2"><i>Through the Garden of Delight;</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Where the loveliest roses wear</i><br /></span> -<span class="i2"><i>Daunting thorns, for you to dare.</i><br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i10">ANOTHER<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>Many shy, unhappy creatures</i><br /></span> -<span class="i2"><i>From the covert watch your mirth:</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>'Foul are we,' they mourn; 'our features</i><br /></span> -<span class="i2"><i>Blot the sun, deform the earth.'</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Pity, love them, speak them fair;</i><br /></span> -<span class="i2"><i>Half their woe ye may repair.</i><br /></span> -</div></div> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> -<img src="images/b01.jpg" width="300" height="178" alt="" /> -</div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sleeping Beauty and other fairy -tales, by Arthur Quiller-Couch and Charles Perrault - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SLEEPING BEAUTY, OTHER FAIRY TALES *** - -***** This file should be named 51275-h.htm or 51275-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/2/7/51275/ - -Produced by Madeleine Fournier. 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