P.—Send for her instantly, or I will have you all beheaded.
M.—(Quickly.) Anything, anything, to oblige your highness.
(Calls Peggy.)
(Cinderella appears in the doorway, with her eyes cast down. Prince jumps up and bows very low. Lucy, Mabel, and Mother, turn away their eyes in disgust.)
H.—Sit down here, fair maiden, and try on this silver shoe.
P.—Nay, no one shall kneel here but me. (Kneels in front of Cinderella, who puts on the shoe without difficulty.) There, I think, is the foot it fits, there is no doubt about that.
M.—I fear your highness is being imposed upon—that shoe could never have belonged to that ragged Cinderella.
C.—Indeed it did—I have the fellow to it.
(Pulls the other out of her pocket. Gets up and dances round in it.)
P.—There is no doubt to whom the slipper belongs. Come, Princess Charming, let me lead you to your palace!