" said the youngest, "shall wear the same petticoat I had made
for the last ball; but then, to make amends for that, I shall put on my
gold muslin train, and wear my diamonds in my hair; with these I must
certainly look well."

They sent several miles for the best hairdresser that was to be had, and
all their ornaments were bought at the most fashionable shops.

On the morning of the ball they called up Cinderella to consult with her
about their dress, for they knew she had a great deal of taste.
Cinderella gave them the best advice she could, and even offered to
assist them in adjusting their head-dresses; which was exactly what they
wanted, and they accordingly accepted her proposals.

While Cinderella was busily engaged in dressing her sisters, they said
to her, "Should you not like, Cinderella, to go to the ball?" "Ah,"
replied Cinderella, "you are only laughing at me; it is not for such as
I am to think of going to balls."

"You are in the right," said they; "folks might laugh indeed to see a
Cinderbreech dancing in a ball-room."

Any other than Cinderella would have tried to make the haughty creatures
look as ugly as she could; but the sweet-tempered girl, on the contrary,
did every thing she could think of to make them look well.

The sisters had scarcely eaten anything for two days, so great was their
joy as the happy day drew near. More than a dozen laces were broken in
endeavouring to give them a fine slender shape, and they were always
before the looking-glass.

At length the much-wished-for moment arrived; the proud misses stepped
into a beautiful carriage, and, followed by servants in rich liveries,
drove towards the palace. Cinderella followed them with her eyes as far
as she could; and when they were out of sight, she sat down in a corner
and began to cry.

Her godmother, who saw her in tears, asked what ailed her.

"I wish--I w-i-s-h," sobbed poor Cinderella, without being able to say
another word.

The godmother, who was a fairy, said to her, "You wish to go to the
ball, Cinderella; is not this the truth?"

"Alas! yes," replied the poor child, sobbing still more than before.

"Well, well, be a good girl," said the godmother, "and you shall go."

She then led Cinderella to her bed-chamber, and said to her, "Run into
the garden and bring me a pumpion." Cinderella flew like lightning, and
brought the finest she could lay hold of. Her godmother scooped out the
inside, leaving nothing but the