She had no sooner done so but her Godmother turned them into six
footmen,who skipped up immediately behind the coach, with their
liveries 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 see here an equipage fit to go to the ball with. Are
you not pleased with it?"
"Oh! yes," cried she; "but must I go thither as I am, in these
dirty 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. Ah! who can describe a robe made
by the fairies? It was white as snow, and as dazzling; round the
hem hung a fringe of diamonds, sparkling like dewdrops in the
sunshine. The lace about the throat and arms could only have been
spun by fairy spiders. Surely it was a dream! Cinderella put her
daintily gloved hand to her throat, and softly touched the pearls
that encircled her neck.
"Come, child," said the Godmother, "or you will be late."
As Cinderella moved, the firelight shone upon her dainty shoes.
"They are of diamonds," she said.
"No," answered her Godmother, smiling; "they are better than
that--they are of glass, made by the fairies. And now, child, go,
and enjoy yourself to your heart's content."
But her Godmother, above all things, commanded her not to stay
till 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 of leaving the ball
before midnight, and then away she drives, scarce able to contain
herself for joy. The King's son, who was told that a great
Princess, whom nobody knew, was come, ran out to receive her. He
gave her his hand as she alighted out of the coach; and led her
into the hall among all the company. There was immediately
a profound silence, they left off dancing, and the violins ceased
to play, so attentive was every one to contemplate the singular
beauties of the unknown newcomer. Nothing was then heard but a
confused noise of "Ha! how handsome she is! Ha! how handsome she
is!"
The King himself, old as he was, could not help watching her and
telling the Queen softly that it was a long time since he had
seen so beautiful and lovely a creature.
All the ladies were busied in considering her clothes and
headdress, that they might have some made next day after the same
pattern, provided they could meet with such fine materials and as
able hands to make them.