第十二章英语（369字）

Chapter 12: Rescuing Cinderella

1. The royal messenger was none other than the Grand Duke himself—

2. a tall, dignified gentleman from the King's court.

3. He arrived with an attendant carrying the glass slipper,

4. and began to have the stepsisters try it on one by one.

5. The older stepsister sat down eagerly to try it,

6. but her foot was too long and big; it wouldn't fit into the dainty glass slipper.

7. The younger stepsister wouldn't give up and quickly took her turn,

8. but her foot was wide and thick and wouldn't go in either. She had to give up in frustration.

9. The Duke shook his head and said to the stepmother,

10. "It appears neither of these young ladies is the person we are searching for."

11. The stepmother feigned disappointment and sighed,

12. forcing a smile. "What a pity. There are no other young girls in this house."

13. Meanwhile, upstairs in the attic room,

14. Cinderella could hear the conversation downstairs and grew even more anxious.

15. Some birds flew in through the window and fluttered around Cinderella,

16. chirping as if to say that help was on the way.

17. Indeed, Cinderella's mouse friends were already on the move.

18. Jaq and Gus sneaked over near the stepmother,

19. and spotted the room key sticking out of her coat pocket.

20. They worked together to carefully tug the key out of her pocket.

21. At last, the key dropped to the floor!

22. Jaq and Gus hefted the key, which was bigger than they were,

23. and struggled to carry it toward the stairs.

24. They inched their way toward the stairs leading up to the attic,

25. sweating with effort at every step.

26. Just as they were about to succeed,

27. the black cat Lucifer suddenly jumped out of the shadows,

28. blocking the stairway, glaring at the mice viciously.

29. Lucifer let out a low growl and stretched out his claws,

30. refusing to let Jaq and Gus pass.

31. The little mice clung to the key, trapped and at a loss,

32. as they faced off against the cat at the bottom of the stairs.