10 FAIRY TALES
of temper, which she took from her mother who was the best creature in the world.
No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over, than the mother-in-law began to show herself in her colours. She could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl; and the less because they, made her own daughters appear the more odious. She employed her in the meanest work in the house; she scoured the dishes, tables, &c. and rubbed madam’s chamber, and those of the misses her daughters; she lay up in a sorry garret, upon a wretched straw-bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms, with floors all in-laid, upon beds of the very newest fashions, and where they had looking-glasses so large that they might see themselves at their full length, from head to foot. The poor girl bore all patiently, and dared not to tell her father, who would have rattled her off, for his wife governed him entirely. When she had done her work, she went into the chimney-corner, and sat down among the cinders and ashes, which made her commonly be called Cinder-breech, but the youngest who was not so rude and uncivil as the eldest, called her Cinderilla. However Cinderilla, notwithstanding her mean apparel, was an hundred times handsomer than her sisters, though they were always dressed very richly.
It happened that the king’s son gave a ball, and invited all persons of fashion to it. Our young misses were also invited; for they cut a very grand figure among the quality. They were mightily delighted at this invitation, and wonderfully busy in choosing out such gowns petticoats, and head clothes as might best become them. This was a new trouble to Cinderilla; for it was she who ironed her sisters' linen, and plaited their ruffles; they talked all day long of nothing but how they should be dressed: “For my part, said the eldest, I will wear my red
