Cinderella | Page 5

yourself to your heart's content."
But her Godmother, above all things, commanded her not to stay till
after midnight, telling her at the same time that if she stayed one
moment longer the coach would be a pumpkin again, her horses mice,
her coachman a rat, her footmen lizards, and her clothes become just as
they were before.
She promised her Godmother she would not fail of leaving the ball
before midnight, and then away she drives, scarce able to contain
herself for joy. The King's son, who was told that a great Princess,
whom nobody knew, was come, ran out to receive her. He gave her his
hand as she alighted out of the coach; and led her into the hall among
all the company. There was immediately a profound silence, they left
off dancing, and the violins ceased to play, so attentive was every one
to contemplate the singular beauties of the unknown newcomer.
Nothing was then heard but a confused noise of "Ha! how handsome
she is! Ha! how handsome she is!"
The King himself, old as he was, could not help watching her and
telling the Queen softly that it was a long time since he had seen so
beautiful and lovely a creature.
All the ladies were busied in considering her clothes and headdress,
that they might have some made next day after the same pattern,
provided they could meet with such fine materials and as able hands to
make them.
The King's son conducted her to the most honorable seat and afterward
took her out to dance with him. She danced so very gracefully that they

all more and more admired her. A fine collation was served up,
whereof the young Prince ate not a morsel, so intently was he busied in
gazing on her.
She went and sat down by her sisters, showing them a thousand
civilities, giving them part of the oranges and citrons which the Prince
had presented her with, which very much surprised them, for they did
not know her. While Cinderella was thus amusing her sisters, she heard
the clock strike eleven and three-quarters, whereupon she immediately
made a courtesy to the company and hastened away as fast as she
could.
Being got home, she ran to seek out her Godmother, and after having
thanked her she said she could not but heartily wish she might go next
day to the ball, because the King's son had desired her.
As she was eagerly telling her Godmother what had passed at the ball
her two sisters knocked at the door, which Cinderella ran and opened.
"How long you have stayed!" cried she, gaping, rubbing her eyes, and
stretching herself as if she had been just waked out of her sleep. She
had not, however, had any manner of inclination to sleep since they
went from home.
"If thou hadst been at the ball," said one of her sisters, "thou would'st
not have been tired with it. There came thither the finest Princess, the
most beautiful ever was seen with mortal eyes. She showed us a
thousand civilities and gave us oranges and citrons."
Cinderella seemed very indifferent in the matter. Indeed, she asked
them the name of that Princess, but they told her they did not know it,
and that the King's son was very uneasy on her account, and would give
all the world to know who she was. At this Cinderella, smiling, replied:
"She must, then, be very beautiful indeed. How happy you have been!
Could not I see her? Ah! dear Miss Charlotte, do lend me your yellow
suit of clothes which you wear every day."
"Ay, to be sure," cried Miss Charlotte; "lend my clothes to such it dirty
cinder maid as thou art! I should be a fool."
Cinderella expected well such answer and was very glad of the refusal,
for she would have been sadly put to it if her sister had lent her what
she asked for jestingly.
The next day the two sisters were at the ball, and so was Cinderella, but
dressed more magnificently than before. The King's son was always by

her, and never ceased his compliments and kind speeches to her, to
whom all this was so far from being tiresome that she quite forgot what
her Godmother had recommended to her, so that she at last counted the
clock striking twelve when she took it to be no more than eleven. She
then rose up and fled as nimble as a deer. The Prince followed, but
could not overtake her. She left behind one of her glass slippers, which
the Prince took up most carefully. She got home, but quite out of breath,
and in her old clothes, having nothing left her of all her finery but one
of the