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.His failure to find rose seeds for his youngest daughter was recalled to his mind as he gazed at the gorgeous riot before him, and he thought: I must be within a day’s journey of home.Surely I could pick a bud—just one flower—and if I carried it very carefully, it would survive a few hours’ journey.These are so beautiful: They’re finer than any we had in our city garden—finer than any I’ve ever seen.So he stooped and plucked a bud of a rich red hue.There was a roar like that of a wild animal, for certainly nothing human could make a noise like that; and the horse reared and plunged in panic.“Who are you, that you steal my roses, that I value above all things? Is it not enough that I have fed and sheltered you, that you reward me with injustice? But your crime shall not go unpunished.”The horse stood still, swearing with fear, and he turned to face the owner of the deep harsh voice: He was confronted by a dreadful Beast who stood beyond the far wall of the rose garden.Father replied in a shaking voice: “Indeed, sir, I am deeply grateful for your hospitality, and I humbly beg your pardon.Your courtesy has been so great that I never imagined that you would be offended by my taking so small a souvenir as a rose.”“Fine words,” roared die Beast, and strode over the wall as if it were not there.He walked like a man, and was dressed like one, which made him the more horrible, as did an articulate voice proceeding from such a countenance.He wore blue velvet, with lace at the wrists and throat; his boots were black.The horse strained at its bridle but did not quite bolt.“But your flattery will not save you from the death you deserve.”“Alas,” said Father, and fell to his knees.“Let me beg for mercy; indeed, much misfortune has come to me already.”“Your misfortunes seem to have robbed you of your sense of honour, as you would rob me of my roses,” rumbled the Beast, but he seemed disposed to listen; and Father, in his despair, told him of the troubles he had had.He finished: “It seemed such a cruel blow not even to be able to take my daughter Beauty the little packet of rose seeds she had asked for; and when I saw your magnificent garden, I thought that I might at least take her a rose from it.I humbly beg your forgiveness, noble sir, for you must see that I meant no harm.”The Beast thought for a moment and then said: “I will spare your miserable life on one condition: that you will give me one of your daughters.”“Ah!” cried Father.“I cannot do that.You may think me lacking in honour, but I am not such a cruel father that I would buy my own life with the life of one of my daughters.”The Beast chuckled grimly.“Almost I think better of you, merchant.Since you declare yourself so bravely I will tell you this for your comfort: Your daughter would take no harm from me, nor from anything that lives in my lands,” and he threw out an arm that swept in all the wide fields and the castle at their centre.“But if she comes, she must come here of her own free will, because she loves you enough to want to save your life—and is courageous enough to accept the price of being separated from you, and from everything she knows.On no other condition will I have her.”He paused; there was no sound but the horse’s panting breath.Father stared at the Beast, not able to look away; and the Beast turned from his contemplation of the green meadow, and looked back at him.“I give you a month.At the end of that time you must come back here, with or without your daughter.You will find my castle easily: You need only get lost in the woods around it—and it will find you.And do not imagine that you can hide from your doom, for if you do not return in a month, I will come and fetch you!”Father could think of nothing else to say; he had a month in which to say good-bye to everything that was dear to him.He mounted with difficulty, for with the Beast standing so near, the horse was nervous and would not stand still.As he gathered up the reins, the Beast was suddenly beside him.“Take the rose to Beauty, and farewell for a rime.Your way lies there,” and he pointed towards the winking silver gate.Father had forgotten all about the rose; he took it in his hand, shrinking, from the Beast; and as he took it the Beast said, “Don’t forget your promise!” and he slapped Father’s mount on die rump.The horse leaped forwards with a scream of terror, and they galloped across the fields as if running for their lives.The gates swung open as they approached, and they plunged through and into die forest, floundering in the snow until he could pull the poor animal back to a more collected pace.“I don’t remember die rest of that journey very well,” said Father.“It started to snow again.I held die reins in one hand, and the red rose in die other.I don’t remember stopping until the poor horse stumbled out of the edge of die trees and I recognized our house in the clearing.”Father stopped speaking, and as though he could not look at us, returned his gaze to the fire.The shadows from die restless flames twisted around the scarlet rose, and it seemed to nod its heavy head at the truth of Father’s tale.We all sat stunned, not comprehending anything but die fact that disaster had struck us—again; it was like the first shock of business ruin in the city.It had been impossible to imagine just what losing our money, our home, might mean; but it was numbing, dreadful.This was worse, and we had yet only begun to feel it, because it was Father’s life.I have no idea how long the silence lasted.I was staring at the rose, silent and serene on the mantelpiece, and I heard my own voice say, “When the month is up, Father, I will return with you.”“Oh, no,” from Hope.“No one will go,” said Grace.Ger frowned down at his hands.Father remained staring at the fire, and after a tiny pause, he said: “I’m afraid someone must go, Grace.But I am going alone.”“You are not,” I said.“Beauty—” Hope wailed.“Father,” I said, “he won’t harm me.He said so.”“We can’t spare you, child,” said Father.“Mmph,” I said.“We can’t spare you.”He lifted his shoulders, “You would soon have to spare me anyway.You are young, child.I thank you for your offer, but I will go alone.”“I am nor offering,” I said.“I am going.”“Beauty!” Grace said sharply.“Stop it.Father, why must anyone go? He will not truly come to take you away.You are safe here.Surely you are safe once you are away from his gates.”“Yes, of course,” said Hope.“Ger, tell them.Perhaps they’ll listen to you.”Ger sighed.“I’m sorry, Hope my dearest, but I agree with your father and with Beauty.There is no escaping this doom
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