18 CINDERELLA. with the most costly jewels that ever were beheld. The fairy took from her pocket a most beautiful pair of elastic glass slippers, which she caused Cinderella to put on, and then desired her to get into the carriage with all expedition, as the ball had already commenced. Cinderella instantly stepped into the chariot, and her godmother, before she took leave, strictly charged her, on no account whatever, to stay at the ball after the clock had struck twelve ; and then added, that if she stopped a single moment beyond that time, her fine coach, horses, coachman, postilion, footmen, and fine apparel, would all return to their original shapes of pumpkin, mice, rats, lizards, and mean-looking clothes. Cinderella promised most faithfully to attend to every thing that, the fairy had mentioned ; and then, quite overjoyed, drove away to the palace, which, as the carriage flew like lightning, she reached in a very short time. The arrival of so splendid an equipage as Cinaerella’s could not fail to attract general notice at the palace ; and information having reached the king’s L
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