e
had so much lamented, and whose tender care of the little girl he was in
hopes to see replaced by that of his new bride.

But scarcely was the marriage ceremony over, before his wife began to
show her real temper; she could not bear the pretty little girl, because
her sweet obliging manners made those of her own daughters appear a
thousand times the more odious and disagreeable.

She therefore ordered her to live in the kitchen; and, if ever she
brought anything into the parlour, always scolded her till she was out
of sight. She made her work with the servants, in washing the dishes,
and rubbing the tables and chairs: it was her place to clean madam's
chamber, and that of the misses, her daughters, which was all inlaid,
had beds of the newest fashion, and looking-glasses so long and broad,
that they saw themselves from head to foot in them; while the little
creature herself was forced to sleep up in a sorry garret, upon a
wretched straw bed, without curtains, or anything to make her
comfortable.

The poor child bore all this with the greatest patience, not daring to
complain to her father, who, she feared, would only reprove her, for she
saw that his wife governed him entirely. When she had done all her work
she used to sit in the chimney corner among the cinders; so that in the
house she went by the name of Cinderbreech: the youngest of the two
sisters, however, being rather more civil than the eldest, called her
Cinderella. And Cinderella, dirty and ragged as she was, as often
happens in such cases, was a thousand times prettier than her sisters,
drest out in all their splendour. It happened that the king's son gave
a ball, to which he invited all the persons of fashion in the country:
our two misses were of the number; for the king's son did not know how
disagreeable they were; but supposed, as they were so much indulged,
that they were extremely amiable. He did not invite Cinderella, for he
had never seen or heard of her.

The two sisters began immediately to be very busy in preparing for the
happy day: nothing could exceed their joy; every moment of their time
was spent in fancying such gowns, shoes, and head-dresses as would set
them off to the greatest advantage. All this was new vexation to poor
Cinderella, for it was she who ironed and plaited her sisters' muslins.
They talked of nothing but how they should be dressed.

"I," said the eldest, "will wear my scarlet velvet with French
trimming."

"And I,