Page 38 - Demo

38host, whoever it might be. But no one appeared, and even after another long sleep, from which he awoke completely refreshed, there was no sign of anybody, though a fresh meal of dainty cakes and fruit was prepared upon the little table at his elbow.Because he was naturally timid, the silence began to terrify him, and he resolved to search once more through all the rooms; but it was of no use; there was no sign of life in the palace! He wondered what he should do. To amuse himself, he began pretending that all the treasures he saw were his own and considering how he would divide them among his children. Then he went down into the garden, and though it was winter everywhere else, here the sun shone, the birds sang, the flowers bloomed, and the air was soft and sweet. The merchant, in ecstasies with all he saw and heard, said to himself: %u201cAll this must be meant for me. I will go this minute and bring my children to share all these delights.%u201dIn spite of being so cold and weary when he reached the castle, he had taken his horse to the stable and fed it. Now he thought he would saddle it for his homeward journey, and he turned down the path which led to the stable. This path had a hedge of roses on each side of it, and the merchant thought he had never seen s u c h e x q u i s i t e f l o w e r s . T h e y reminded him of his promise to Beauty, and he stopped and had just gathered one to take to her when he was startled by a strange noise He picks a rose.