Page:MU KPB 022 Cinderella - Arthur Rackham.pdf/47

Ella had once seen driving with the King and Queen along the road that ran past the house. He had now reached the age of twenty-one years, and on the occasion of his birthday there were to be great festivities. Cinder­ella heard all about it from her sisters. For weeks before­ hand they had talked of nothing else in the evenings when Cinderella went into the drawing-room. They even neg­lected their music, and were so excited that they stopped in the middle of a most fascinating novel they were read­ing. The novel was about a poor but noble young man who was dispossessed of his rightful inheritance by a wicked uncle, and it always made Euphronia cry.

“They say that the whole town is to be illuminated,” said Charlotte, “and the fountains are going to run with wine, so that the common people can enjoy themselves.”

“I don’t see why the common people need to enjoy themselves,” said Euphronia with a sniff. “The Prince would do much better to devote his attention to the fashionable folk and the gentry. What do a lot of greasy peasants and shopkeepers want with illuminations and fountains running wine?”

“Every boy-child in the town is to have a present,” Charlotte went on, “and every girl-child a doll. That is by the Prince’s own wish, for he is very fond of children.”

“Sentimental nonsense!” cried Euphronia, tossing her head.

“And there are to be a series of grand balls at the palace, to which all the best people in the country are to be invited. We shall get an invitation, of course, for we are very important people.”