up, "Our hearts break when we know only half the
truth. They are healed when all the truth is known."

"Come, it will be great to have you go too," declared Everychild
urgently.

Cinderella slowly relaxed in her chair. She rested her chin in her
palm and gazed at the floor. Her eyes presently took in the fact that
she had lost a slipper.

"I don't see how I could manage it," she said. "I seem to have lost a
slipper. One of the pretty glass ones. But there, you don't know
about that." She aroused herself and began looking about for her old
slippers. She looked here and there. She found them at last under the
bed. She took them into her hands and turned them over and over,
regarding them sadly. Then without seeming cause she started guiltily
and fixed her gaze on the door through which her sisters had made their
entrance and exit.

"Some one is coming!" she whispered excitedly,

Everychild sprang to his feet.

"It's my mother, I think," added Cinderella. "I'm afraid there'll be
trouble. Please run away. No, I don't think I could go with you,
after all."

Everychild stood undecided an instant; and then he could see the inner
door opening. He would have run away, then, but it was too late; and
Cinderella seized him by the arm. It was plain that she was trying to
think of a place where he might hide.

He knew what to do in a second. He dropped to the floor and rolled
under Cinderella's bed! From his hiding-place under the bed he saw the
door open wide and a very pompous-appearing matron enter the room.

This was Cinderella's mother, who began immediately, in a rage:

"So, my fine girl, you are here ahead of me!"

Cinderella bowed her head. "I am here, mother," she said in a low
voice.

"Without your fine clothes, I see!"

"My fine clothes, mother?" said Cinderella, with downcast eyes.

"None of that, my lass! A mother's eyes are not deceived. I knew it
was you! All those jewels and silks, finer than your poor dear sisters
can afford to wear, did not deceive me. And the prince dancing with
you shamelessly while your poor sisters sat by as if they had wooden
legs . . . did you suppose for an instant you could deceive me?"

Of course Cinderella knew she had been found out. She replied in a
tone of sad resignation: "I could scarcely have expected to deceive
you, mother. I've had so little experience in doing so. You know I've
always been obedient--always before. Deceit isn't easy.