Midnight!

Cinderella dropped the prince’s hand. She ran outside as the clock struck 12.

“ Wait! ” the prince shouted. “ Don’t go! ” Cinderella started down the steps. One of her glass shoes fell off.

Cinderella looked back. But it was too late to get the shoe. Her golden coach was already a pumpkin. Her beautiful gown was an ugly old rag again.

The prince ran down the steps. “ Where is the princess?” he cried. He ran past Cinderella.

Cinderella’s heart sank. He didn’t know that she was the princess! Slowly she began to walk home.

The prince went back up the steps. Near the top step, something sparkled. “ Hmm, ” the prince said. He picked it up. “ What’s this?”