Chapter 12

_Prince._ I wonder if my fairy princess will come to-night. I've been looking for her for more than an hour. Oh, here she is! Dear lady, I've been hoping you would come.

_Cinderella._ So you have not forgotten me?

_Prince._ No, and never shall. Will you go with me to see the flowers?

_Cinderella._ What lovely flowers! This is certainly the home of the flower fairies. See the roses nodding at us. They almost ask us to love them.

_Prince._ May I give you this dainty pink one? It is the color of your cheeks.

_Cinderella._ Remember I am from the land of Far Away and I must vanish at midnight.

_Prince._ Tell me where your father lives that I may call upon him.

_Cinderella._ Not now; but sometime I may tell you about my fairy godmother.

_Prince._ There! I knew you must be a sister of the fairies. Does your fairy godmother have a fairy wand?

_Cinderella._ Yes, and she does wonderful things with it--but my father and mother do not know about her.

_Prince._ Of course not. Only very young people know about fairy godmothers. But we know, don't we?

_Cinderella._ Hark! I hear the chimes ringing. It must be twelve o'clock, and I must go.

_Prince._ Do not go, dear princess. Stay here in my palace, always.

_Cinderella._ The fairies are calling me and I am late. I must go. Perhaps I can come again sometime. Oh, I am afraid--

_Prince._ Afraid of what?

_Cinderella._ Good-by, good-by!

_Prince._ She's gone! What was she afraid of? I cannot see her! Who is that child running down the stairway? She must be one of the servants who has been watching the dancers. I wish I could see my princess. What is that shining thing on the stairs? She has lost one of her crystal slippers. Now I know how I shall find her. To-morrow I shall send a herald through the city to find the owner of this pretty little slipper.