20 CINDERELLA. gazing at the beauty and magnificence of this elegant stranger. Then they began in whispers to express their admiration: “ How beautiful she is !—what a handsome figure !— how elegantly she is dressed !” Even the prince’s hither, old as he was, could not behold her with indifference, but repeatedly said to the queen, that he had never seen so lovely a creature, The ladies were all engaged m observing how her clothes were made, that they might be able to describe them to their dress-makers, and, if possible, to order the same splendid materials and pattern to be procured, and got ready for the next evening’s ball. So angelic and faultless was the form of the lovely- stranger, that even envy seemed to be asleep ; for not one of the ladies present had the most distant expectation of being able to rival her in any one of the qualities which she possessed, and only looked upon her as a superior being, whom they might try to copy from. The king’s son conducted Cinderella to one of the most distinguished seats, and placing himself by her side, beg
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