At last the evening came, and off they set in a coach. Cinderella watched them till they were out of sight, and then she sat down by the kitchen fire and began to weep.
All at once her fairy godmother appeared, with her wand.
“What are you crying for, my little maid?”
“I wish—I wish,” began the poor girl, but her voice was choked with tears.
“You wish that you could go to the ball?”
Cinderella nodded.
“Well, then, if you will be a good girl, you shall go. Run quick and fetch me a pumpkin from the garden.”
Cinderella flew to the garden and brought back the finest pumpkin she could find. She could not guess what use it would be, but the fairy scooped it hollow, and then touched it with her wand. The pumpkin became at once a splendid gilt coach.
“Now fetch me the mouse-trap from the pantry.”
In the mouse-trap were six sleek mice. The fairy opened the door, and as they ran out she touched each with her wand, and it became a gray horse. But what was she to do for a coachman?