At the last of these, which was a full-dress affair at Fanny’s house, something happened which not only tried Jessie’s temper sorely, but brought her a reward for many small sacrifices.  So much dancing was very hard upon her slippers, the new pair were worn out long ago, and a second pair were in a dangerous condition; but Jessie hoped that they would last that evening, and then she would indulge in better ones with what Fanny would pay her.  She hated to take it, but her salary at Mademoiselle’s was needed at home; all she could spare from other sources was sacredly kept for Laura’s jaunt, and only now and then did the good little girl buy some very necessary article for herself.  She was learning to be humble, to love work, and be grateful for her small wages for her sister’s sake; and while she hid her trials, withstood her temptations, and bravely tugged away at her hard tasks, the kind Providence, who teaches us the sweetness of adversity, was preparing a more beautiful and helpful surprise than any she could plan or execute.

That night all were much excited, and great was the energy displayed as the scarlet, blue, and silver couples went through the rapid figures with unusual spirit and success.  The brass-heeled boots stamped in perfect time, the furred caps waved, and the braided jackets glittered as the gay troop swung to and fro or marched to the barbaric music of an impromptu band.  Jessie looked on with such longing in her eyes that Fanny, who was ill with a bad cold, kindly begged her to take her place, as motion made her cough, and putting on the red and silver cap sent her joyfully away to lead them all.

The fun grew rather fast and furious toward the end, and when the dance broke up there lay in the middle of the floor a shabby little slipper, burst at the side, trodden down at the heel, and utterly demoralized as to the bow with a broken buckle in it.  Such a disreputable little shoe was it that no one claimed it when one of the young men held it up on the point of his sword, exclaiming gayly,—­

“Where is Cinderella?  Here’s her shoe, and it’s quite time she had a new pair.  Glass evidently doesn’t wear well now-a-days.”

They all laughed and looked about to find the shoeless foot.  The girls with small feet displayed them readily; those less blessed hid them at once, and no Cinderella appeared to claim the old slipper.  Jessie turned as red as her cap, and glanced imploringly at Fanny as she slipped through a convenient door and flew up-stairs, knowing that in a moment all would see that it must be hers, since the other girls wore red boots as a part of their costume.

Fanny understood; and though awkward and slow with her feet, she was kind-hearted and quick to spare her friend the mortification which a poor and proud girl could not help feeling at such a moment.  The unfortunate slipper was flying from hand to hand as the youths indulged in a boyish game of ball to tease the laughing girls, who hastened to disclaim all knowledge of “the horrid thing.”