Next, she had Cinderella find some mice[10], and when she brought the furry little creatures back, the fairy godmother tapped them each with her wand, turning[11] them into six fine horses and a coachman.
“Well, what do you say? Do you still think you are not able to attend the ball?” asked her godmother.
“Oh yes!” cried Cinderella, “but should I go looking like this, in these rags?[12]”
Her godmother only touched her with her wand, and instantly Cinderella’s rags turned into a dress of white and silver, sparkling with jewels.
To top it off[13], fairy godmother gave Cinderella a pair of glass slippers[14], the prettiest in the whole world.
“The spell only lasts until midnight, so promise you will leave the ball before then,” said the Godmother.
Cinderella promised to return before midnight, thanked her again, and drove off to the ball.
When Cinderella entered the castle, the dancing and music stopped as everyone turned to gaze at her beauty.
No one recognized her; she was a complete mystery.
The Prince rushed up to greet her, led her to the most honorable seat, and later took her out for a dance[15].
Cinderella even made time to approach her step-sisters, who still did not recognize her, and shared some of the oranges the prince had presented to her as a gift.
The Prince never left her side[16], and Cinderella was enjoying herself so much that she completely forgot the time!
When the clock struck midnight, Cinderella was shocked and ran away immediately, leaving one of her glass slippers behind in haste.
The Prince ran to follow her, but only managed to pick up the glass slipper she left behind.
Cinderella managed to get home[17] but was quite out of breath[18] and in her dirty old clothes.
She was resting in bed when her two stepsisters suddenly entered her room.
“You stayed really late![19]” cried Cinderella, rubbing her eyes and stretching as if she had been sleeping.
“If you had been there, you would have seen the most beautiful princess[20],” exclaimed the eldest sister, “she was so nice to us and had the undivided attention of the Prince.”
“Her background is a mystery, and the Prince would give anything to know who she was[21],” said the youngest.
A few days later, the Prince declared that he would marry the woman whose foot fit in the slipper.