Over at the ball, the Prince did not know what to think. “Why do you have that sad look on your face?” the Queen said to her son. “Look around you! You could not ask for finer maidens than these.”
在舞会上，王子不知道该怎么想。“你为什么一脸悲伤呢?”王后对儿子说。“看看你的周围!你找不到比她们更好的姑娘了。”
“I know, Mother,” said the Prince. Yet he knew something was wrong. He had met many of the young women. Yet after he said “hello,” one by one, he could find nothing more to say.
“我知道，妈妈。”王子说。然而他知道出了问题。他见过许多年轻女子。然而，在他一个接一个地说“你好”之后，他找不出更多的话来。
"Look!" Someone pointed to the front door. “Who is that?”
“看!”有人指着前门。“那是谁?”
All heads turned. Who was that lovely maiden stepping down the stairs? She held her head tall and looked as if she belonged. But no one knew her.
所有人都转过头去。走下楼梯的那位可爱的少女是谁?她昂着头，看上去好像属于这里。但是没有人认识她。
“There is something about her,” said the Prince to himself. “I will ask her to dance.” And he walked over to Cinderella.
“她身上有些东西。”王子自言自语道。“我要请她跳舞。”他走到灰姑娘身边。
“Have we met?” said the Prince.
“我们见过?王子说。
“I am pleased to meet you now,” said Cinderella with a bow.
“我很高兴现在见到你，”灰姑娘鞠了一躬说。
“I feel as if I know you,” said the Prince. “But of course, that is impossible.”
“我觉得我好像认识你。”王子说。“当然，那是不可能的。”
“Many things are possible,” said Cinderella, “if you wish them to be true.”
“很多事情都是可能的，”灰姑娘说，“只要你希望它们是真的。”
The Prince felt a leap in his heart. He and Cinderella danced. When the song was over, they danced again. And then they danced again, and yet again. Soon the other maidens at the ball grew jealous. “Why is he dancing all the time with her?” they said. “How rude!”
王子感到心头一跳。他和灰姑娘跳舞。歌曲结束后，他们又跳了起来。然后他们又跳了一遍又一遍。不久舞会上的其他姑娘开始嫉妒起来。“他为什么总是和她跳舞?””他们说。“多么粗鲁!”
But all the Prince could see was Cinderella. They laughed and talked, and they danced some more. In fact, they danced for so long that Cinderella did not see the clock.
但是王子看到的只有灰姑娘。他们有说有笑，还跳了更多的舞。事实上，他们跳了很长时间，以至于灰姑娘都没有看到钟。
“Dong!” said the clock.
“咚!钟响了。
Cinderella looked up.
灰姑娘抬头。
“Dong!” went the clock again.
“咚!时钟又响了。
She looked up again. “Oh, my!” she cried out. “It is almost midnight!”
她又抬起头来。“哦,我的天!她喊道。“快半夜了!”
“Dong!” rung the clock.
“咚!钟响了。
“Why does that matter?” said the Prince.
“这有什么关系?”王子说。
“Dong!” called the clock.
“咚!钟响了。
“I must go!” said Cinderella.
“我必须走了!”灰姑娘说。
“Dong!” went the clock.
“咚!钟响了。
“But we just met!” said the Prince. “Why leave now?”
“可我们才刚认识啊!”王子说。“为什么走了?”
“Dong!” rung the clock.
“咚!钟响了。
“I must GO!” said Cinderella. She ran to the steps.
“我必须走!”灰姑娘说。她跑向台阶。
“Dong!” said the clock.
“咚!钟响了。
“I cannot hear you,” said the Prince. “The clock is too loud!”
“我听不见。”王子说。“钟太响了!”
“Dong!” rung the clock.
“咚!钟响了。
“Goodbye!” said Cinderella. Up, up the stairs she ran.
“再见!”灰姑娘说。她跑上楼梯。
“Dong!” went the clock.
“咚!时钟又响了。
“Please, stop for a moment!” said the Prince.
“请停一下!”王子说。
“Oh, dear!” she said as one glass slipper fell off her foot on the stair. But Cinderella kept running up.
“哦,天呐!一只水晶鞋从她的脚上掉到楼梯上时，她说。但是灰姑娘不停地跑。
“Dong!” said the clock.
“咚!时钟又响了。
“Please wait a moment!” said the Prince.
“请等一等!”王子说。
“Dong!” rung the clock.
“咚!时钟又响了。
“Goodbye!” Cinderella turned one last time. Then she rushed out the door.
“再见!”灰姑娘最后一次转身。然后她冲出门去。
“Dong!” The clock was quiet. It was midnight.
“咚!”时钟静了下来。午夜到了。
“Wait!” called the Prince. He picked up her glass slipper and rushed out the door. He looked around but could not see her blue dress anywhere. “This is all I have left from her,” he said, looking down at the glass slipper. He saw that it was made in a special way, to fit a foot like none other. “Somewhere there is the other glass slipper,” he said. “And when I find it, I will find her, too. Then I will ask her to be my bride!”
“等等！”王子叫道。他拿起她的水晶鞋，冲出门去。他环顾四周，但哪儿也看不到她的蓝色连衣裙。“这是她留给我的所有东西，”他低头看着水晶鞋说道。他看到它是以一种特殊的方式制作的，独一无二地适合一只脚。“另一只水晶鞋就在某个地方，”他说。“当我找到它的时候，我也会找到她。那我就请她做我的新娘！”
