The golden coach started down the road.
"Wait!" Godmother called.
The coach stopped.
Cinderella looked back. "What is it?"
"You must obey one rule tonight," Godmother said.
"You must leave the ball by midnight or . . ."
"Yes?" Cinderella asked.
"Poof!" Godmother said.
"Your golden coach will disappear.
Your clothes will turn back into rags."
Cinderella nodded. "I promise, Godmother.
I will leave the ball by midnight."
The horses took off again.
"Thank you!" Cinderella called.
At the ball the prince danced with many fine ladies.
One fine lady talked too much.
One fine lady danced too fast.
One fine lady stepped on his toes.
"This is boring," the prince thought.
He went outside and sighed.
There were many fine ladies at the ball.
But he didn't want to marry any of them.
Just then the prince spotted something.
A golden coach was coming.
"Who's that?" he said.
"It looks like a beautiful princess!"
The golden coach arrived at the palace.
Cinderella saw a handsome young man.
"The prince!" she whispered.
The prince rushed down the steps.
"Hello," he said softly.
He bowed and took Cinderella's hand.
The prince and Cinderella entered the ballroom.
Everyone hushed.
"Who is that?" they whispered.
"Who is that beautiful princess?"