No, sister," said the three brothers with one voice, "that cannot be, we will go in search of this monster, and either he or we will perish.”
"Do not hope to kill him said the merchant this power is far too great. But Beauty's young life shall not be sacrificed: I am old, and cannot expect to live much longer, so I shall but give up a few years of my life, and shall only grieve for the sake of my children.”
"Never, father!" cried Beauty: "If you go back to the palace, you cannot hinder my going after you, though young, I am not over-fond of life, and I would much rather be eaten up by the monster, than die of grief for your loss.”
The merchant in vain tried to reason with Beauty, who still obstinately kept to her purpose, which, in truth, made her two sisters glad, for they were jealous of her, because everybody loved her.
The merchant was so grieved at the thoughts of losing his child, that he never once thought of the chest filled with gold, but at night, to his great surprise,he found it standing by his bedside He said nothing about his riches to his eldest daughters, for he knew very well it would at once make them want to return to town; but he told Beauty his secret, and she then said, that while he was away, two gentlemen had been on a visit at their cottage, who had fallen in love with her two sisters. She entreated her father to marry them without delay, for she was so sweet-natured, she only wished them to be happy.
Three months went by, only too fast, and then the merchant and Beauty got ready to set out for the palace of the beast. Upon this, the two sisters rubbed their eyes with an onion, to make believe they were crying, both the merchant and his sons cried in earnest. Only Beauty shed no tears They reached the palace in a very few hours, and the horse, bidding, went into the same stable as before. The merchant and Beauty walked towards the large hall, where they found a table covered with every dainty and two plates laid ready. The merchant had very little appetite; but Beauty, that she might the better hide her grief, placed herself at the table, and helped her father, he then began to eat herself, and, thought all the time that, to be sure, the beast had a mind to fatten her before he ate her up, since he had provided such good cheer for her. When they had done their supper, they heard a great noise, and the good old man began to b his poor child farewell, for he knew it was the beast coming to them. When Beauty first saw that frightful form, she was very much terrified, but tried to hide her feat. The creature walked up to her and eyed her all over-then asked her in a dreadful voice if she had come quite of her own accord.
"Yes," said Beauty.
"Then you are a good girl, and I am very much obliged to you."
This was such an astonishingly civil answer that Beauty's courage rose but it sank again when the beast, addressing the merchant, desired him to leave the palace next morning, and never return to it again. And so good night, merchant And good night, Beauty."
"Good night, beast," she answered, as the monster shuffled out of the room.
“Ah! my dear child,” said the merchant, kissing his daughter, "I am half dead already, at the thought of leaving you with this deadful beast, you shall go back and let me stay in your place.