英语插图故事：BEAUTYANDTHEBEAST.docVIP

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 　 　　Once upon a time, in a town far away, there lived a rich merchant who had three pretty daughters. 　　The youngest daughter was the prettiest of the three and she was called Beauty. She was as good and kind as she was lovely. Her elder sisters, although they too were pretty, were neither kind nor good. They were selfish and proud. 　　One day their father came home looking very grave. When his daughters asked him what was the matter, he replied, “Alas, I am on longer rich. I have lost my fortune. We must all leave this beautiful house and go to live in a cottage in the country.” 　　The elder sisters were very angry when they learned this news. “What shall we do with ourselves all day in the country?” Beauty said, “How nice it will be to live in the country among the woods and fields and flowers.” 　　So their father found a little cottage with a large garden, in the country, and they all went to live there, the father worked hard in the garden and, by selling his fruit and vegetables, made enough money to live comfortably. 　　Beauty was very busy too. She was a good little cook, a good little housemaid and a good little washerwoman. She did all the work of the house very happily. 　　While Beauty sang as she did the housework, her sisters sat looking miserable. They did nothing but grumble because they were no longer rich. 　　　One day, the father gathered his three daughters together and told them that he had to go to a distant town, on business. He might not return until the next day. “Is there any little gift which I might bring home for you?” he asked each of his daughters in turn. 　　“Diamonds for me,” said eldest daughter. 　　“Pearls for me,” said the second daughter. 　　“Please, father, a bunch of white roses for me,” said Beauty. 　　Then their father rode away on horseback and Beauty waved to him from the doorstep. 　　When he had finished his business he set off for home. Before long it grew dark and he lost his way. He found himself in a dense wood