: THE FAIRY GODMOTHER.]

She was so beautiful that everybody looked at her, and wondered who she
was; and the Prince asked her to dance with him, and afterwards would
dance with no one else.

[Illustration: ARRIVAL AT THE PALACE.]

But she made haste to leave a little before the hour fixed, and had time
to undress before her sisters came home. They told her a beautiful
Princess had been at the ball, with whom the Prince was delighted. They
did not know it was Cinderella herself, and she was amused to hear them
admire her grace and beauty, and say that they were sure she was a royal
lady.

The Prince was quite vexed when supper-time came, and he could not find
his beautiful partner, and no one had seen her leave the room. But in
hopes of beholding her again, he persuaded the King to give another
grand ball. As soon as her sisters were gone to it, Cinderella's
godmother arrived.

"You were so good and obedient last time, that I shall let you go out
again," said she to the young girl.

And once more the rat, mice, grasshoppers, and pumpkin (which had gone
back to their original shapes after the first ball) were turned into the
grand carriage and attendants, and Cinderella, in rose-coloured satin
and rubies, went to the royal ball.

Directly the Prince saw her, he asked her to dance, and would have no
other partner, and as he led her past her two unkind sisters, she saw
them look at her dress with envious eyes, and knew that they wished they
were as beautiful, and as well-dressed as she was.

But in the midst of her enjoyment, Cinderella remembered the Fairy's
command, and at half-past ten glided out of the room, and drove home
again. Her sisters found her waiting to undress them in her usual rags,
and kept her up to tell her how beautiful the unknown Princess was, and
how well she was dressed.

Again the Prince was vexed at the sudden disappearance of the beautiful
stranger, and once more he persuaded the King to give a grand State
ball.

"I wonder if Princess Beauty will be there!" said the sisters to
Cinderella. "We must have new dresses, for she is so splendid. She makes
every one look shabby."

[Illustration: CINDERELLA DANCES WITH THE PRINCE.]

Cinderella smiled as she helped them to dress. She was sure the Fairy
would let her go to the ball too. And she was right. Her godmother,
pleased with her obedience, came in good time, and Cinderella, dressed
in blue satin and pearls, went in the same style as b