Manila’s face had been scarlet at first, for she was almost ashamed of being a little bound-out girl before these newcomers, but Edith had started it so beautifully that she smiled at her audience.
“Let’s sit on the floor,” said Willis. “That’s the way they do in Persia, and Aunt Grace never finds fault with us.”
They gathered around the little girl. Even Uncle Warren laid down his paper and joined the circle. And what an attentive audience!
“Well that’s just fine!” ejaculated Willis. “I’ve never seen just such a Cinderella, and there wasn’t any glass slipper?”
“Don’t interrupt,” said his sister.
It was all so vivid and Marilla made such pretty gestures with her hands and swayed 288 her head to and fro, that they could fairly see the palace, and the banquet was superb with its lights and flowers and beautiful adornments.
“And couldn’t they dance but just one evening with the Prince? That was rather tough.”
“But there was so many knights and the Cinderellas seemed just as happy. No one was cross.”
“Well, that was wonderful! Oh, didn’t you hate to wake up?”
“I don’t believe I did really wake up, and every night for awhile I seemed dreaming it over, and I can shut my eyes and see it so plainly. When things didn’t go quite right it was such a pleasure.”