English fiction -- 20th century; Humorous stories, English; Short stories, English
"I TOLD you they were too tight," she explained rapidly, "and I was
trodden on by every man in the place, and I simply HAD to kick them
off at supper, and--and I only got one back. I don't know what
happened to the other; I suppose it got pushed along somewhere, but,
anyhow, _I_ wasn't going under the table after it." She laughed
suddenly and softly to herself. "I wonder what they'll do when they
find the slipper?" she said.
. . . . . . . .
Of course the King's son (or anyhow, Mr Hogbin) ought to have sent
it round to all the ladies in Mayfair, taking knightly oath to marry
her whom it fitted. But what actually happened was that a footman
found it, and, being very sentimental and knowing that nobody would
ever dare to claim it, carried it about with him ever
afterwards--thereby gaining a great reputation with his cronies as a
nut.
Oh, and by the way--I ought to put in a good word for the godmother.
She did her best.
"Cinderella!" said her mother at lunch next day, as she looked up
from her letters. "Why didn't you tell me your godmother was ill?"
"She wasn't very well when I left her, but I didn't think it was
anything much. Is she bad? I AM sorry."
"She writes that she has obtained measles. I suppose that means
YOU'RE infectious. Really, it's very inconvenient. Well, I'm glad we
didn't know yesterday or you couldn't have gone to the dance."
"Dear fairy godmother!" said Cinderella to herself. "She was a day
too late, but how sweet of her to think of it at all!"
A LITERARY LIGHT
ANNESLEY BUPP was born one of the Bupps of Hampshire--the Fighting
Bupps, as they were called. A sudden death in the family left him
destitute at the early age of thirty, and he decided to take
seriously to journalism for a living. That was twelve years ago. He
is now a member of the Authors' Club; a popular after-dinner speaker
in reply to the toast of Literature; and one of the best-paid
writers in Fleet Street. Who's Who tells the world that he has a
flat at Knightsbridge and a cottage on the river. If you ask him to
what he owes his success he will assure you, with the conscious
modesty of all great men, that he has been lucky; pressed further,
that Hard Work and Method have been his watchwords. But to the young
aspirant he adds that of course if you have it in you it is bound to
come out.
I
When Annesley started journalism he realized at once that it was
necessary for him to specialize in some subject. Of such subjects
two occurred to him--"George Herbert" and "Trams." For a time he
hesitated, and it was only the sudden publication of a brief but
authoritative life of the poet which led him finally to the study of
one of the least explored of our transit systems. Meanwhile he had
to support himself. For this purpose he bought a roll-top desk, a
typewriter, and an almanac; he placed the almanac on top of the
desk, seated himself at the typewriter, and began.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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