Once there was a gentleman who married, for his second wife, the proudest and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had, by a former husband, two daughters of her own, who were, indeed, exactly like her in all things
She could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl, and the less because they made her own daughters appear the more odious. She employed her in the meanest work of the house. She scoured the dishes, tables, etc., and cleaned madam’s chamber, and those of misses, her daughters.
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 help her go to the ball. Her godmother scooped out all the inside of it, leaving nothing but the rind. Having done this, she struck the pumpkin with her wand, and it was instantly turned into a fine coach, gilded all over with gold.
While Cinderella was thus amusing her sisters, she heard the clock strike elevenand three-quarters, whereupon she immediately made a curtsy to the company and hurried away asf ast as she could.
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She was taken to the young prince, dressed as she was. He thought she was more charming thanbefore, and, a few days after, married her. Cinderella, who was no less good than beautiful, gave hertwo sisters lodgings37 in the palace, and that very same day matched them with two great lords of the court.