e three which had the largest
beard, and having touched him with her wand he was turned into a fat,
jolly coachman, who had the smartest whiskers eyes ever beheld. After
that she said to her:

"Go again into the garden, and you will find six lizards behind the
watering-pot. Bring them to me."

She had no sooner done so but her Godmother turned them into six
footmen, who skipped up immediately behind the coach, with their liveries
all bedaubed with gold and silver, and clung as close behind each other
as if they had done nothing else their whole lives. The fairy then said
to Cinderella:

"Well, you see here an equipage fit to go to the ball with. Are you not
pleased with it?"

"Oh! yes," cried she; "but must I go thither as I am, in these dirty
rags?"

Her Godmother only just touched her with her wand, and at the same
instant her clothes were turned into cloth-of-gold and silver, all beset
with jewels. Ah! who can describe a robe made by the fairies? It was
white as snow, and as dazzling; round the hem hung a fringe of diamonds,
sparkling like dewdrops in the sunshine. The lace about the throat and
arms could only have been spun by fairy spiders. Surely it was a dream!
Cinderella put her daintily gloved hand to her throat, and softly
touched the pearls that encircled her neck.

"Come, child," said the Godmother, "or you will be late."

As Cinderella moved, the firelight shone upon her dainty shoes.

"They are of diamonds," she said.

"No," answered her Godmother, smiling; "they are better than that--they
are of glass, made by the fairies. And now, child, go, and enjoy
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