The stepsisters kept talking about the ball.
"I will wear my favorite jewels," Gert said.
"I'm going to dance with the prince," Trudy said.
"Hmph!" Gert said.
"The prince won't dance with you.
He'll be too busy dancing with me!"
"Girls, girls," Stepmother said.
"The prince will dance with both of you."
"How do you know?" Trudy asked.
Stepmother had a wicked grin.
"The prince is looking for a wife.
So he will dance with all the ladies."
Trudy and Gert clapped with delight.
"You both must impress him," Stepmother said.
"Then he'll want to marry one of you.
And I can move to the palace!"
Later Stepmother found Cinderella.
"You must make pretty gowns for my daughters.
Everything must be perfect!"
Cinderella made two beautiful gowns.
The stepsisters put them on.
"I look lovely!" Trudy said.
"I look lovely too!" Gert said.
Trudy looked at Cinderella.
"Poor Cinderella," she whispered.
"You will miss the ball."
Stepmother spun around. "Hush, Trudy!
Cinderella has work to do!" she yelled.
"She will stay home and scrub floors."
At last it was the night of the ball.
"Good-bye, Cinderella!" the stepsisters called.
Tears slipped from Cinderella's eyes.
She began to sob.