The poor girl bore all patiently, and dared not tell her father,9 who would have rattled her off; for his wife governed him entirely. When she had done her work, she used to go into the chimney-corner, and sit down among cinders and ashes,10 which made her commonly be called Cinderwench;11 but the youngest, who was not so rude and uncivil as the eldest, called her Cinderella.12 However, Cinderella, notwithstanding her mean apparel, was a hundred times handsomer than her sisters,13 though they were always dressed very richly.
It happened that the King's son14 gave a ball,15 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-clothes16 as might become them. This was a new trouble to Cinderella; for it was she who ironed her sisters' linen, and plaited their ruffles;17 they talked all day long of nothing but how they should be dressed.