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PROUD MISS BEAUTY. 89
Jllioda, stopping a little way within the gate, clasped
her hands, and said, only half aloud :
" Oh, I wonder if it isn't the garden of Eden come
"
back. I never saw anything like it, in the world !
" And yet she isn't
happy here," said the bear, who
had overheard the softly spoken words.
" Look at her !
''
Khoda looked and saw a yonng lady seated beside
the principal fountain, throwing flowers into the water.
A book lay upon her lap, but she did not seem to care
for that or anything else, and looked as miserable and idle
as it is possible to imagine.
"That is the way she sits all day," said the poor
"
bear, sighing. Let us go and speak to her."
Bat as the young lady heard the steps of the visitors
approaching she turned away her head, and sweeping
her hand backward with a disdainful air, said :
" There, go away, Beast, go away Isn't it
enough
to keep me a prisoner here, without tormenting me with
your presence "
?
" "
Oh, Beauty, Beauty, don't be so cruel to me, don't !
moaned poor Beast, shrinking away as if she had struck
him ;
and although he hung his head almost down to
the ground, Khoda could see
the great tears roll down
his hairy cheeks and run trickling down his great nose.
" Poor Beast !
" said she very softly, and turned her
back upon the proud Beauty, whom she no longer
admired.
The Chimney-Elf looked from one to anothe^ with