LITMIR.BIZ

      4. Вставьте правильные предлоги (at, to).

      1. They went out __________ parties, balls, plays, concerts, and so forth every day.

      2. They laughed __________ their youngest sister, because she spent the greatest part of her time reading good books.

      3. The merchant lost his whole fortune, excepting a small country house __________ a great distance from town.

      4. Beauty spoke kindly __________ poor people.

      2

      When they came to their country house, the merchant and his three sons applied themselves to husbandry and tillage,[6] and Beauty rose at four in the morning and made haste to clean the house and cook dinner for the family. In the beginning she found it very difficult, for she had not been used to work as a servant, but in less than two months she grew stronger and healthier than ever. After she had done her work, she read, played the piano, or sung while she spun.

      On the contrary, her two sisters did not know how to spend their time; they got up at ten and did nothing but wander about the whole day, lamenting the loss of their fine clothes and acquaintance. “Look at our youngest sister,” said they, one to the other, “what a poor, stupid, mean-spirited creature she is, to be contented with such an unhappy situation.”

      The good merchant was of quite a different opinion; he knew very well that Beauty was better than her sisters, in her person as well as her mind, and admired her humility, industry and patience, for her sisters not only left her all the work of the house to do but insulted her every moment.

      The family had lived about a year in this retirement when the merchant received a letter with an account that the vessel on board of which he had some goods safely arrived. This news made the two eldest daughters happy and they immediately flattered themselves with the hopes of returning to town,[7] for they were quite weary of a country life, and when they saw their father ready to set out, they begged him to buy them new dresses, ribbons, and other trifles; but Beauty asked for nothing for she thought that all the money her father was going to receive would not be sufficient to purchase everything her sisters wanted.

      “What will you have, Beauty?” said her father.

      “Since you have the goodness to think of me,[8]” answered she, “be so kind to bring me a rose, for as none grows hereabouts, they are a kind of rarity.”

      The merchant went on his journey, but when he came there, they went to law with him about the merchandise,[9] and after a great deal of trouble and pains to no purpose,[10] he came back as poor as before.

      He was not far from his own house, thinking on the pleasure he should have in seeing his children again, when going through a large forest he lost himself.[11] It rained and snowed terribly, and the wind was so high that it threw him twice off his horse,[12] and he heard wolves’ howling all round him. Suddenly he saw a light at some distance. It came from a palace illuminated from top to bottom. The merchant thanked God for this happy discovery and hastened to the place, but he was greatly surprised at not meeting with anyone in the outer courts. His horse followed him and, seeing a large stable open, went in and, finding both hay and oats, the poor beast, who was almost famished, started to eat greedily. The merchant tied him up to the manger and walked towards the house, where he saw no one. Entering into a large hall, he found a good fire and a table plentifully set out with

Скачать книгу