_Prince._ What a lovely lady! she must be a princess. Tell me, fair lady, are you a princess from the land of flowers?
_Cinderella._ I am not a princess, sir, but only a girl from the land of happy thoughts.
_Prince._ You say well, fair lady, for no one can look upon you without thoughts of love and joy.
_Cinderella._ And you, great Prince, have thoughts of great and n.o.ble deeds, have you not?
_Prince._ Yes, I have thoughts of great deeds, of brave men and fair ladies, of games and victories,--but now I have forgotten all but you.
_Cinderella._ Will you remember me to-morrow or shall I fade away like the dreams of night?
[Ill.u.s.tration]
_Prince._ No dreams could be fairer, but I hope you will not vanish as they do. If you do, I am quite sure that I shall find you!
_Cinderella._ Don"t be too sure, for I am not what I seem. I am a princess only in your thoughts; really I am--
_Prince._ What? a flower, a star, a G.o.ddess?
_Cinderella._ No, only a woman--
_Prince._ The best of all, a woman! And now will the dream-woman dance with me?
_Cinderella._ With pleasure; what lovely music!--and so many pretty women. What beautiful rooms!
[_Cinderella, the Prince, her father, mother, sisters, and two gentlemen dance the minuet._]
_Prince._ Will you not tell me your name and where you live?
_Cinderella._ Both are a secret.
_Prince._ It makes no difference to me, for I know you, and that is enough.
_Cinderella._ I hear the clock! What hour is it striking?
_Prince._ Twelve--but that is early. You need not go?
_Cinderella._ Yes, I must, and quietly. Do not try to keep me, Prince--good night!
_Prince._ She is gone! and I do not know where she lives. How can I find her? I"ll give another ball and hope she will come again.
[_All go out._]
SCENE IV.--_Cinderella"s Home_
_Father._ Well, girlies, did you have a pleasant time at the ball?
_Katherine._ Oh, yes, papa, splendid! But did you see the lovely princess that came so late?
_Elizabeth._ She was the prettiest girl there. I wonder who she is!
_Mother._ So do I. It seems to me I"ve seen her somewhere. Perhaps I"ve met her in my travels; but I can"t remember where it was.
_Father._ What is her name?
_Katherine._ I heard some one say she was Lady Far Away. But that"s not a real name.
_Elizabeth._ Perhaps she is a princess in disguise.
_Cinderella._ Tell me, sister, how this princess looked.
_Elizabeth._ Oh! she is lovely! Golden curls and blue eyes and such a sweet smile!
_Katherine._ She wore a beautiful dress that shone like the moonlight.
_Elizabeth._ Did you notice her pretty slippers? They looked like crystal.
_Mother._ The Prince danced with her all the time.
_Father._ Why, here comes the Prince"s herald. I"ll see what he wants.
Here is a note. It is an invitation to go to the Prince"s palace again to-night. Do you all want to go?
_All._ Yes, yes, father, please!
_Father._ All right, we"ll go!
_Cinderella._ Can"t I go this time, mamma?
_Mother._ No, my dear. When you are a little older you can go, but not now.
SCENE V.--_At the Palace_
_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 G.o.dmother.