found six lizards. A touch of the wand, and six footmen sprang up behind the coach. 15. "Now you can go to the ball in style,” said the fairy. "Shall I go in these rags ?" said Cinderella. 16. The fairy touched her with the wand. At once she stood in a rich dress of cloth of gold, beset with jewels. Then the fairy gave her a pair of glass slippers which just fit her little feet. 17. "You are a dear god-mother," said the happy Cinderella. "Go at once," said the fairy. "Be sure you do not stay after midnight. At the stroke of twelve the coach will be a pumpkin again; the horses, mice; the coachman, a rat; the footmen, lizards." 18. "That will be long enough," said Cinderella. She sprang into the coach and drove rapidly to the King's palace. PART THREE 19. There was a great noise at the palace. It was said that a grand princess whom no body knew was coming to the ball. When the coach wheels were heard, the prince himself went to the door to meet her. 20. Cinderella was by far the greatest beauty in the ball-room. She met the King and all the great people of the court. She met the two sisters, who bowed to the floor. The Prince danced with her again and again. She had a very gay time. 21. A little before twelve the unknown princess called for her coach. The Prince begged her to stay longer. The sisters and the great ladies said she must not think of going so soon. 22. But Cinderella laughed and said goodby. She got home just as the clock struck. At once she sat in her own clothes by the fire, and there was no coach to be seen. 23. Soon the sisters came home. "What do you think, Cinderella," they said, "there was an unknown princess at the ball. She came in a golden coach. She wore a rich dress and costly jewels, and a pair of dear, little, glass slippers. You should have seen her." 24. The next night the Prince gave a ball at the palace. He had begged Cinderella to please him by coming. She very much hoped she could go. 25. When night came, the sisters went to the ball. They said they would watch the princess if she came and tell Cinderella all about her. They were no sooner gone than the fairy stood before the fire-place. 26. She waved her wand in the air, and there stood the golden coach. She touched Cinderella, and there stood the princess more richly dressed than before. Cinderella thanked her god-mother and drove away. 27. This night the prince would not leave her side. She had such a gay time that she quite forgot to watch the clock. In the midst of a dance, it began to strike twelve. Good-by," she 28. Cinderella grew pale. said to the prince, and fled from the room. As she ran down the stairs, her rich clothes were changed to her old rags. One of her slippers fell from her foot. No coach waited for her at the door. All that was left of her finery was the one glass slipper that clung to her foot. PART FOUR 29. The next day men went out from the palace to hunt for the princess. They carried |