“What’s ‘cruel and proud’?” Chiquita asked.
Pete explained.
“‘And so between the three the little girl had a very hard time. She worked like a slave all day long, and was never allowed to go out of the kitchen. The stepmother and the proud sisters, used to go to balls every night, leaving the little girl alone. Because she was always so dusty and grimy from working over the fire, they called her Cinderella. Now, it happened that the country was ruled by a very handsome young prince—‘”
“What’s ‘handsome young prince’?” Clara asked.
Pete explained.
“‘And all the ladies of the kingdom were in love with him.’”
“What’s ‘in love’?” Peachy asked.
Pete closed the book.
“Ah, that’s a question,” he said after an instant of meditation, “that will admit of some answer. Say, you fellers, you’d better come into this.”
D.