Cinderello

Chapter 4: At the Ball

When Cinderello entered the ballroom, everyone fell silent. Then slowly, a whisper went around the room.

"Who can he be? Who's that handsome boy?" the gentlemen wondered. "He must be a bullfighting prince."

A voice next to Cinderello almost made his jump. It was the Princess. "May I have this dance?" she asked.

Cinderello and the Princess twirled across the floor. "He's so graceful," said the other gentlemen. "And look at his torero suit! Have you ever seen anything so delicate?"
"Ignore him!" shouted his stepfather.
"The Princess is only being polite," said Gimoaldo. "She'd much rather dance with me."

Cinderello was enjoying himself so much, he forgot to watch the time. As the Princess whirled him around the room, he caught sight of the clock.

"The time! Oh no!" he said. "It's almost midnight. I must go."

Cinderello pulled away from the Princess and ran across the dance floor. The Princess raced after him. "Come back," she called. "I don't even know your name."

But Cinderello had disappeared into the darkness.

"Have you seen a boy in a turquoise and gold torero suit?" the Princess asked the palace guard.
"No," said the guard. "A boy ran past a moment ago, but he was dressed in smelly rags."

"I've lost him," the Princess turned back to the palace with a sigh. Then something on the steps caught her eye. "His glass slipper!" she cried.