The Story Traveller Read Online Free PDF Page A

white teeth that go with a beautiful smile.’
    â€˜Oh!’ Cinderella sighed. ‘I wish
I
could meet him.’ Lucy allowed herself a little grin, but remembered the rules and said nothing. ‘He was richly dressed in royal purple and seemed to be a kind person, if a little headstrong. In fact he’s everything a prince should be.’
    â€˜And what’s his voice like? I bet he has a beautiful voice,’ Cinderella said.
    â€˜He does, very melodious. If I were a little older, say your age, I would be in love with him, but he is far too old for me in more ways than one; although I think he’s very attractive.’ (Lucy added as an afterthought.)
    â€˜Don’t you feel a little bit in love with him?’ Cinders laughed.
    â€˜Well, perhaps a tiny bit.’ If they hadn’t been so busy with their work they might have noticed the fairy godmother’s face peer in at one of the windows and they might have caught sight of her little helpers creeping in under the door. Although Lucy had managed to collect up most of the pearls, there were still some thirty missing. The wee fairies flew this way and that, and in no time had found every single pearl, even though some had gone under the floorboards and a few had landed in the flour. Carefully they rolled the pearls within Lucy’s grasp, then, their task completed; they shook off the dust, dirt and flour and returned under the door to the fairy godmother’s basket.
    â€˜145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150,’counted Lucy. ‘They’re all here. My word,’ she added, we’ve been talking non-stop but haven’t we achieved a lot?’
    â€˜Yes,’ agreed Cinderella. ‘Only that wax to get off.’
    â€˜We’ll do that tomorrow night,’ promised Lucy.
    â€˜You really are coming back?’ Cinderella asked a surprised smile on her face.
    â€˜Try and stop me!’
    â€˜Lucy, do you mind if I take these flowers to my mother’s grave?’ Cinderella said, not wanting to hurt her friend’s feelings.
    â€˜Oh please do.’
    â€˜Only, I’m sure my stepmother will throw them out when she sees them, and I always try to take some to her grave when I can.’
    â€˜Oh Ella, how can you bear it?’ For a few moments the two girls clung to each other and then Cinderella said: ‘I need to go and make up their bedroom fires before they return, tidy their rooms, feed and walk Leticia’s dog and then get their breakfast things ready for the morning. I must get some sleep, because I have to be up by six. I hope you don’t mind.’
    Lucy was about to suggest she gave Cinderella a hand when she saw Twinkle at the window, beckoning her outside.
    â€˜Of course I don’t mind. I have to go home now anyway. But we’ll see each other tomorrow.’
    The girls hugged and said their goodbyes, and then Lucy wrapped her cloak round her and left the kitchen. Twinkle was waiting for her at the top of the steps.
    â€˜So, you’ve decided to take the job, Lucy?’
    â€˜Oh yes, please.’
    â€˜Well my dear, you’ve done well today. Perhaps you shouldn’t have pulled Imogene’s hair, but I can see why you were tempted.’
    â€˜They didn’t see me, Twinkle. I was invisible, honest.’
    â€˜On this occasion yes, but you must be careful. How did you like Cinderella?’
    â€˜Oh, she was wonderful and so pretty. She also has the patience of a saint.’
    â€˜Yes – perhaps too much at times. If you were a little more like Cinderella and she a little more like you, neither of you would be bullied.’
    â€˜You mean I should try to understand why Anna is a bully and Cinderella should try to be less accepting?’
    â€˜Something like that,’ Twinkle said kindly. She looked carefully at Lucy and suddenly began to walk up and down in a very definite manner. Lucy wondered what she was up to.
    â€˜Now remember Lucy, when