2بخش

I can stay in the….

The attic…

Quite so…

The attic?

Yes.

Oh, only temporarily, while I have all the other rooms redecorated.

The attic’s so nice and airy and you’ll be away from all of our fuss and bother.

You’d be even more cozy if you kept all this bric-a-brac up there with you.

Keep you amused.

Well.

no one shall disturb me here.

Oh, hello, Gus-Gus.

Oh.

Oh.

Go on, Gus-Gus, you can do it.

So this is where you take refuge.

Me too, it would seem.

Right.

Who’s going to help me?

Simpleton.

That is the last straw.

Our little sister, up there, talking to the woodworm.

How very pleasant.

No cats.

and no stepsisters.

We have a halfwit for a sister.

I’ve got two.

I heard that.

Who is she talking to?

She’s mad.

Good morning.

Good morning, Miss Ella.

Good morning, Tom!

Hello.

Don’t mind if I.

What a lovely Chantecler.

Well done.

Thanks.

‘Morning.

‘Morning.

Thank you, Miss Ella.

You’re welcome.

Ella!

Wake up, girls!

It’s lunch time!

Mornings did not agree with Ella’s stepsisters.

And they lacked accomplishment in such domestic arts as keeping house.

In fact, they lacked accomplishment in any art.

Oh.

Do shut up.

Ella’s great comfort were the letters that Father would send from his travels.

The weeks away lengthened to months, but every day would bring his thoughts from some distant part.

Miss Ella, it’s the mail coach!

Until late one afternoon.

Farmer John?

Miss Ella.

It’s your father, miss.

He took ill on the road.

He’s passed on, miss.

He’s gone.

To the end, he spoke only of you, miss.

And your mother.

I was to give you this.

But what about my lace?

My parasol?

Can’t you see?

None of that matters.

We’re ruined.

How will we live?

Thank you.

It must have been very difficult for you.

How indeed to live.

Economies had to be taken.

Ella’s stepmother dismissed the household.

Her stepmother and stepsisters ever misused her.

And by and by they considered Ella less a sister than a servant.

And so Ella was left to do all the work.

This was a good thing, for it distracted her from her grief.

At least that was what her stepmother said.

And she and her two daughters were more than happy to provide Ella with lots and lots of distraction.

In their defense, they did share with her the very food they ate, or rather, the scraps from their table.

She had little in the way of friends.

Well, her friends were very little.

There you are.

Have dinner with me, won’t you?

But those friends she had, she treated with an open heart and an open hand.

Your table.

Sometimes, by the end of the day, the drafty attic was too cold to spend the night in, so she lay by the dying embers of the hearth to keep warm.

I thought breakfast was ready.

It is, madam.

I’m only mending the fire.

In future, can we not be called until the work is done?

As you wish.

Ella, what’s that on your face?

Madam?

It’s ash from the fireplace.

Do clean yourself up.

You’ll get cinders in our tea.

I’ve got a new name for her!

Cinderwench.

I couldn’t bear to look so dirty.

Oh, Dirty Ella.

Cinder-ella!

That’s what we’ll call you.

Oh, girls, you’re too clever.

Who’s this for?

Is there someone we’ve forgotten?

It’s my place.

It seems too much to expect you

to prepare breakfast, serve it and still sit with us.

Wouldn’t you prefer to eat when all the work is done, Ella?

Or should I say, “Cinderella”?

Hmm?

Cinderella.

Names have power, like magic spells.

And of a sudden, it seemed to her that her stepmother and stepsisters had indeed transformed her into merely a creature of ash and toil.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Run!

Quickly, my friend, or they’ll catch you!

Go!

Whoa!

Easy!

Perhaps it was just as well that Ella’s stepsisters were cruel.

For had she not run to the forest, she might never have met the prince.

Easy!

Easy!

Whoa!

Whoa!

Easy, boy!

Come on, boy, slow down!

Miss!

Miss!

Are you all right?

Hold on!

I’m all right, thank you!

That’s fine.

Whoa!

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Whoa.

Whoa.

Are you all right?

I’m all right, but you’ve nearly frightened the life out of him.

Who?

The stag.

What’s he ever done to you that you should chase him about?

I must confess I’ve never met him before.

He is a friend of yours?

An acquaintance.

We met just now.

I looked into his eyes, and he looked into mine, and I just felt he had a great deal left to do with his life.

That’s all.

Miss, what do they call you?

Never mind what they call me.

You shouldn’t be this deep in the forest alone.

I’m not alone.

I’m with you, Mister.

What do they call you?

You don’t know who I am?

That is.

They call me Kit.

Well, my father does when he’s in a good mood.

And.

where do you live, Mr. Kit?

At the palace.

My father’s teaching me his trade.

You’re an apprentice?

Of a sort.

That’s very fine.

Do they treat you well?

Better than I deserve, most likely.

And you?

They treat me as well as they’re able.

I’m sorry.

It’s not your doing.

Nor yours either, I’ll bet.

It’s not so very bad.

Others have it worse, I’m sure.

We must… simply have courage and be kind, mustn’t we?

Yes.

You’re right.

That’s exactly how I feel.

Please don’t let them hurt him.

But we’re hunting, you see.

It’s what’s done.

Just because it’s what’s done doesn’t mean it’s what should be done.

Right again.

Then, you’ll leave him alone, won’t you?

I will.

Thank you very much, Mr. Kit.

Ah.

There you are, Your High.

It’s Kit!

Kit!

Kit!

I’m Kit.

I’m on my way.

Well, we’d better get a move on, Mr. Kit.

As I said.

On my way.