carriage started off, and in a short time reached the
palace.

The arrival of so splendid an equipage as Cinderella's could not fail to
attract general notice at the palace gates, and as it drove up to the
marble portico the servants, in great numbers, came out to see it.

[Illustration]

The king's son, to whom it was announced that an unknown princess had
arrived, hastened to receive her. He handed her out of the carriage,
and led her to the ball-room. Immediately she entered the dancing
ceased, and the violins stopped playing; so much was every one struck
with the extreme beauty of the unknown princess; and the only sound
heard was that of admiration. The king, old as he was, could not take
his eyes off her, and said, in a low voice to the queen, that he had not
seen such a beautiful person for many years. All the ladies began
examining her dress, that they might have similar ones the next evening,
if it was possible to obtain equally rich stuffs, and work-people
skilled enough to make them. The king's son conducted her to the most
distinguished place, and invited her to dance. She danced with such
grace that everybody was in raptures with her; and when supper was
served the prince could partake of nothing, so much was he occupied in
contemplating the beauty of the fair stranger.

Seated close to her sisters, Cinderella showed them marked attention,
and divided with them the oranges and citrons which the prince had given
her; all of which surprised them greatly, as they did not recognize her.

When Cinderella saw that it wanted but a quarter of an hour of midnight
she left as quickly as possible, making a low courtesy to all the
company.

On reaching home she found her godmother there, thanked her for the
delightful evening she had spent, and begged permission to go to the
ball the following night, as the prince had desired her company. The
fairy kindly granted her request, on condition that she would return
before twelve. She then caused her clothes to resume their usual
plainness, that her sisters might not know of her adventure.

Whilst Cinderella was occupied in relating all that had passed at the
ball to her godmother, the two sisters knocked at the door, and as she
went to open it for them the fairy disappeared.

[Illustration]

"O, how late you are in coming home," said Cinderella, rubbing her eyes,
as if just awakened.

"If you had been at the ball," said one of the sisters, "you would not
have b