With the mysterious princess gone, the heart seemed to have gone out of the party, and everyone drifted off home. The prince sat alone on the steps in the moonlight, not knowing if he had awoken from a dream or fallen into a nightmare. Dandini came quietly out of the door, and handed something to the prince. It was the glass slipper. He leapt up and embraced Dandini and, within a few minutes, they had worked out a plan to find his dream once more. The slipper was so tiny, they reckoned if they made every woman in the country try it on, the woman it fitted would have to be the princess. So, the next morning, they set off to do just that.
Well, after hours of fruitless searching, going to every house in every street, trying the shoe on every woman, old, young, tall, short, thin, stout, rich and poor, they came to Hard-up Hall. Word of their plan had spread before them, and the two sisters had got themselves prepared in their finest gowns and tightest socks, ready to force their feet into the slipper no matter how much it hurt. But first one, and then the other was disappointed. The shoe would hardly fit on their big toe, let alone the whole foot! The entire royal party heaved a sigh of relief and turned to go. The prince was about to leave forever!
I knew that if someone didn't stop him, two important dreams were going to end, there and then. So, I spoke up.
"My lord, forgive me, I am a humble servant, but I feel it is my duty to tell you of a third sister in this house who hasn't been brought forward to try the slipper."
One of the sisters gave me a sharp clout around the ear, but despite their protests the prince insisted on seeing Cinderella, and of course, the slipper was hers. She slipped her foot into it, and in that simple movement, two dreams became a kiss, and then a wedding!
The royal carriage has left the garage
The marriage is today
The news is spreading, the royal wedding
Is heading right this way…
Ding dong, ding dong,
Ring them bells and don't get the ring wrong,
Ding dong, ding dong,
Everybody ring them bells.
There was the most enormous celebration in the cathedral, with all the people of the country present.
Have a search 'round the royal church for
A perch where you can see
Cinderella and her feller
Now yell them bells for me…
Ding dong, ding dong,
Ring them bells and don't get the ring wrong,
Ding dong, ding dong,
Everybody ring them bells.
And a huge party after. And Cinderella's father was made a Duke, and I was made a Knight of the Green Baize, and shortly afterwards the king bought a new billiard table and retired, and the prince and Cinderella became King and Queen. And although the dream was dreamed once upon a time, we, and they, and all the kingdom are living now, happily ever after…
Joyful singing, bells are ringing,
Hear the music play,
Joy and laughter ever after
Have to come their way
Ding dong, ding dong,
Ring them bells and don't get the ring wrong,
Ding dong, ding dong,
Everybody ring, everybody ring,
Everybody ring them bells!
