No sooner was the wedding ceremony over, than the new wife began to show herself in her true colours. She could not bear the goodness of the gentleman’s pretty.girl, and especially as she made her own daughters appear the more horrid. She made her do the meanest jobs in the house.carpets, and walls on which hung looking-glasses so large that they might see themselves at their full length from head to foot.

The poor girl bore all patiently, and dared not tell her father, who would have been angry with her; for his new wife ruled him entirely

When the little girl had done her work, she used to go into the chimney corner, and sit down among cinders and ashes, which led her to be called Cinderwench; but the youngest stepdaughter, who was not quite so rude and unkind as the eldest, called her Cinderella.However, Cinderella, dressed in rags was a hundred times prettier than her sisters, though they were always dressed very richly.

It happened that the king’s son gave a ball, and invited all the finest gentlemen and ladies of the city. Our young misses’ were also invited, for they were always to be seen at fashionable parties.

However, Cinderella, dressed in rags was a hundred times prettier than her sisters, though they were always dressed very richly.

It happened that the king’s son gave a ball, and invited all the finest gentlemen and ladies of the city. Our young misses’ were also invited, for they were always to be seen at fashionable parties.For my part,” said the eldest, “I will wear my red velvet suit with French trimming.”

“And I,” said the youngest, “shall have my usual petticoat; but then, to make amends for that, I will put on my gold-flowered gown, and my 

diamond belt, which is far from being the most ordinary one in the world.”

But in truth, they were still not absolutely sure what would be best to wear to the ball, so they sent for the best fashion designer they could find to advise on their evening dresses, and they had their nails manicured at Mademoiselle de la Poche.Cinderella was likewise called up to them for advice, for she had excellent judgement, and advised them always for the best, indeed, and offered her services to make up their hair, which they were very willing she should do.

As she was doing this, they said to her: “Cinderella, would you not be glad to go to the ball?”

“Alas!” Said she. “You only jeer me. It is not for a poor girl like me to go there.”

“You’re quite right,” replied they, “it would make the people laugh to see a Cinderwench at a ball.”

Anyone but Cinderella would have dressed their heads all wrong, but she was very good, and dressed them perfectly well.The stepsisters were almost two days without eating, so much were they thrilled and excited. They broke above a dozen corsets in trying to be laced up tightly, so that they might have a fine slender shape, and they were continually at their looking-glass. 

At last the happy day came. They went to court, and Cinderella followed them with her eyes as long as she could, and when she had lost sight of them, she fell a-crying.ust then, her fairy godmother, who used to watch over her secretly, saw her all in tears, and appeared at her side and asked her what was the matter.I wish I could – I wish I could” She was not able to speak the rest, being interrupted by her tears and sobbing.

This fairy godmother of hers said to her: “You wish you could go to the ball; is it not so?

“Y-es,” cried Cinderella, with a great sigh.

“Well,” said her godmother, “be but a good girl, and I will see that you shall go to the ball.” Then she took her into her secret room, and said to her: “Run into the garden, and bring me a pumpkin.”

Cinderella went immediately to gather the finest she could get, and brought it to her godmother, not being able to imagine how this pumpkin could make her go to the ball.Her godmother scooped out all the inside of the big vegetable, leaving nothing but the rind; 

which done, she struck it with her wand, and the pumpkin was instantly turned into a fine coach, gilded all over with gold.She then went to look into her mousetrap, where she found six mice, all alive, and ordered Cinderella to lift up a little the trapdoor.As each mouse went out, she gave it a little tap with her wand, and the mouse was that moment turned into a fine horse, which altogether made a very fine set of six horses of a beautiful mouse-coloured dapple-grey.But they still needed a coachman.

“I will go and see,” said Cinderella, “if there is a rat in the rattrap – we may make a coachman of him.”

“You’re a smart one,” replied her godmother, “go and look.”

Cinderella brought the trap to her, and in it there were three huge rats. The fairy made choice of one of the three which had the largest beard, and having touched him with her wand, was turned into a fat, jolly coachman, who had the smartest whiskers eyes ever beheld.After that, she said to her: “Go again into the garden, and you will find six lizards behind the watering can, bring them to me.”

She had no sooner done so but her godmother turned them into six footmen, who skipped up immediately behind the coach, with their uniforms all bedaubed with gold and silver, and clung as close behind each other as if they had done nothing else their whole lives

The fairy then said to Cinderella: “Well, you have here transport fit to take you to the ball. Are you not pleased with it?”

“Oh yes,” cried she, “but must I go there as I am, in these nasty rags?”

Her godmother only just touched her with her wand, and at the same instant, her clothes were turned into cloth of gold and silver, all beset with jewels.

This done, she gave her a pair of glass slippers, the prettiest in the whole world. Being thus decked out, she got up into her coach; but her godmother, above all things, commanded her not to stay until after midnight, telling her at the same time that if she stayed one moment longer, the coach would be a pumpkin again, her horses mice, her coachman a rat, her footmen lizards, and her clothes become just as they were before.She promised her godmother she would not fail to leave the ball before midnight; and then away she went, scarce able to contain herself for joy.