pumpkin." Cinderella brought the finest that was
there. Her godmother scooped it out very quickly, and then struck it with
her wand, upon which it was changed into a beautiful coach. Afterwards,
the old lady peeped into the mouse-trap, where she found six mice. She
tapped them lightly with her wand, and each mouse became a fine horse. The
rat-trap contained two large rats; one of these she turned into a
coachman, and the other into a postilion. The old lady then told
Cinderella to go into the garden and seek for half-a-dozen lizards.
These she changed into six footmen, dressed in the gayest livery.

When all these things had been done, the kind godmother touching her with
her wand, changed her worn-out clothes into a beautiful ball-dress
embroidered with pearls and silver. She then gave her a pair of glass
slippers, that is, they were woven of the most delicate spun-glass, fine
as the web of a spider.

When Cinderella was thus attired, her godmother made her get into her
splendid coach, giving her a caution to leave the ball before the clock
struck twelve.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

On her arrival, her beauty struck everybody with wonder. The gallant
Prince gave her a courteous welcome, and led her into the ball-room;
and the King and Queen were as much enchanted with her, as the Prince
conducted her to the supper-table, and was too much occupied in waiting
upon her to partake of anything himself. While seated, Cinderella heard
the clock strike three-quarters past eleven. She rose to leave, the Prince
pressing her to accept an invitation for the ball on the following
evening.

On reaching home, her godmother praised her for being so punctual, and
agreed to let her go to the next night's ball.

Although she seemed to be tired, her sisters, instead of showing pity,
teased her with glowing accounts of the splendid scene they had just left,
and spoke particularly of the beautiful Princess. Cinderella was delighted
to hear all this, and asked them the name of the Princess, but they
replied, nobody knew her. So much did they say in praise of the lady, that
Cinderella expressed a desire to go to the next ball to see the Princess;
but this only served to bring out their dislike of poor Cinderella still
more, and they would not lend her the meanest of their dresses.

The next evening the two sisters went to the ball, and Cinderella also,
who was still more splendidly dressed than before. Her enjoyment was even
gr