It happened that the king's son gave a ball, and he invited all persons of high degree. The two young ladies were invited amongst others, for they cut a considerable figure in the country. Not a little pleased were they, and the question of what clothes and what mode of dressing the hair would become them best took up all their time. And all this meant fresh trouble for Cinderella, for it was she who went over her sisters' linen and ironed their ruffles. They could talk of nothing else but the fashions in clothes. 'For my part,' said the elder, 'I shall wear my dress of red velvet, with the Honiton lace.' 'I have only my everyday petticoat,' said the younger, 'but to make up for it I shall wear my cloak with the golden flowers and my necklace of diamonds, which are not so bad.' They sent for a good hairdresser to arrange their double-frilled caps, and bought patches at the best shop. They summoned Cinderella and asked her advice, for she had good taste. Cinderella gave them the best possible suggestions, and even offered to dress their hair, to which they gladly agreed. While she was thus occupied they said: 'Cinderella, would you not like to go to the ball?' 'Ah, but you fine young ladies are laughing at me. It would be no place for me.' [Illustration: '_The haughtiest, proudest woman that had ever been seen_'] 'That is very true, people would laugh to see a cinder-slut in the ballroom.' Any one else but Cinderella would have done their hair amiss, but she was good-natured, and she finished them off to perfection. They were so excited in their glee that for nearly two days they ate nothing. They broke more than a dozen laces through drawing their stays tight in order to make their waists more slender, and they were perpetually in front of a mirror. At last the happy day arrived. Away they went, Cinderella watching them as long as she could keep them in sight. When she could no longer see them she began to cry. Her godmother found her in tears, and asked what was troubling her. 'I should like--I should like----' She was crying so bitterly that she could not finish the sentence. Said her godmother, who was a fairy: 'You would like to go to the ball, would you not?' 'Ah, yes,' said Cinderella, sighing. 'Well, well,' said her godmother, 'promise to be a good girl and I will arrange for you to go.' She took Cinderella into her room and said: 'Go into the garden and bring me a pumpkin.' Cinderella went at once and gathered the finest that she could find. This she brought to her godmother, wondering how a pumpkin could help in taking her to the ball. Her godmother scooped it out, and when only the rind was left, struck it with her wand. Instantly the pumpkin was changed into a beautiful coach, gilded all over.