Part 7 (1/2)

_Prince._ There! I knew you must be a sister of the fairies. Does your fairy G.o.dmother have a fairy wand?

_Cinderella._ Yes, and she does wonderful things with it--but my father and mother do not know about her.

_Prince._ Of course not. Only very young people know about fairy G.o.dmothers. But we know, don't we?

_Cinderella._ Hark! I hear the chimes ringing. It must be twelve o'clock, and I must go.

_Prince._ Do not go, dear princess. Stay here in my palace, always.

_Cinderella._ The fairies are calling me and I am late. I must go.

Perhaps I can come again sometime. Oh, I am afraid--

_Prince._ Afraid of what?

_Cinderella._ Good-by, good-by!

_Prince._ She's gone! What was she afraid of? I cannot see her! Who is that child running down the stairway? She must be one of the servants who has been watching the dancers. I wish I could see my princess. What is that s.h.i.+ning thing on the stairs? She has lost one of her crystal slippers. Now I know how I shall find her. To-morrow I shall send a herald through the city to find the owner of this pretty little slipper.

SCENE VI.--_Cinderella's Home_

_Cinderella._ Mamma, mamma, here is a man on horseback who wants to see you.

_Mother._ What is your errand, sir?

_Herald._ I am sent by the great Prince of our country to find the owner of this slipper. He says he will marry no one but the lady who can wear this little crystal slipper.

_Mother._ I'll call my daughters. Katherine! Elizabeth! We were all at the ball at the Prince's palace. Katherine, is this your gla.s.s slipper?

Try it on.

_Katherine._ Yes, mother. My, how small it is! I cannot get my foot in it!

_Elizabeth._ Perhaps it will fit me. My feet are smaller than yours. No, I cannot push my foot in, no matter how long I try. It must be a magic slipper.

_Cinderella._ May I try on the slipper?

_Mother._ My dear child, why should you try on the slipper? It belongs to the princess who went to the ball.

_Katherine._ And you were not at the ball, Cinderella!

_Elizabeth._ Your foot is too big for it, my dear little sister.

_Herald._ Pardon me, ladies, but the orders of the Prince are that every lady, young or old, must try on the slipper, and when the owner is found she must go with me to the palace.

_Cinderella._ Give it to me, please. See how easily it slips on my foot--and here is the mate to the gla.s.s slipper in my pocket. Dear Mother, I am the fairy princess you saw at the ball.

_Mother._ You, my dear! and I did not know you!