eater than at the first ball, and she was so occupied with the Prince's
tender sayings that she was not so quick in marking the progress of time.

[Illustration]

To her alarm she heard the clock strike twelve. She fled from the
ball-room; but in a moment the coach changed again to a pumpkin, the
horses to mice, the coachman and postilion to rats, the footmen to
lizards, and Cinderella's beautiful dress to her old shabby clothes. In
her haste she dropped one of her glass slippers, and reached home, out of
breath, with none of her godmother's fairy gifts but one glass slipper.

When her sisters arrived after the ball, they spoke in terms of rapture of
the unknown Princess, and told Cinderella about the little glass slipper
she had dropped, and how the Prince picked it up. It was evident to all
the Court that the Prince was determined if possible, to find out the
owner of the slipper; and a few days afterwards a royal herald proclaimed
that the King's son would marry her whose foot the glass slipper should be
found exactly to fit.

This proclamation caused a great sensation. Ladies of all ranks were
permitted to make a trial of the slipper; but it was of no use. Cinderella
now said, "Let me try--perhaps it may fit me." It slipped on in a moment.
Great was the vexation of the two sisters at this; but what was their
astonishment when Cinderella took the fellow slipper out of her pocket!

At that moment the godmother appeared, and touched Cinderella's clothes
with her wand. Her sisters then saw that she was the beautiful lady they
had met at the ball, and, throwing themselves at her feet, craved her
forgiveness.

A short time after, she was married to the Prince, to the intense
gratification of the whole Court.

[Illustration]

* * * * *

ROUTLEDGE'S
THREEPENNY TOY-BOOKS,
WITH SIX COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS,

PRINTED BY KRONHEIM & CO.

5. MY FIRST ALPHABET
6. MOTHER GOOSE
7. THE BABES IN THE WOOD
8. THIS LITTLE PIG
9. THE OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE
10. LITTLE BO-PEEP
11. NURSERY RHYMES
12. FARM-YARD ALPHABET
13. JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
14. JOHN GILPIN
15. OLD MOTHER HUBBARD
16. THE THREE BEARS
17. THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT
18. THE DOGS' DINNER PARTY
19. MY MOTHER
20. THE CATS' TEA PARTY
21. MORE NURSERY RHYMES
22. ROBIN REDBREAST