Chapter XVIII

Of course Maida didn’t know what happened in the Plaza after she was packed in the box, and carted away, but she was told about it afterward by Jack-in-the-Box. Business being disposed of, Aurora turned off the red light and the crowd rose with a sigh of relief.

“Now that we’ve settled and done with all this nonsense, let’s talk of something really worth while,” said Aurora. “Let’s talk about _me_. Unbind those two rogues, and let them approach,” and she pointed to Jack and the Candy Kid who were thereupon unbound and persuaded to draw near. Neither of them had paid particular attention to Aurora, so when she stood in front of Jack and smirked at him, all his machinery began to rattle and creak and whirr like mad.

“Let me run down,” he cried, “let me run down, I don’t want to see any more.”

As for the Candy Kid, he took one good look then covered his eyes with his hands. Luckily Aurora misunderstood their meaning. “My fatal beauty,” she sighed. “The sun is too bright for our eyes. I must be like that to them. Such appreciation is a compliment. I pardon you both. Now tell me,” as they started to bow themselves away, “Did you ever see anything just like me before?” “We never did,” replied the two, and Aurora smirked. “For _your_ sake,” she said, “I will forgive the toy-maker. I had no idea he could make such clever marionettes. I’ll have him make me a couple of hundred.” Just at this moment there was a diversion. Fido came galloping through the Plaza. Not being accustomed to Polar Bears, although they have a lovely Zoo, the Illusians scattered.

With his nose to the ground Fido was following the scent of his two chums and before anyone had a chance to prevent him he reared up and stood face to face with Aurora. She smiled on him. Did you ever see a fox terrier run after a cat? Then just when your heart was in your mouth the cat got tired of running, sat down, and stared in the dog’s face. Do you remember how the dog acted? Well, when the Bear came face to face with that awful smile he acted just like a very small pup who has chased a very large cat and discovered his mistake. Then he fled.

“Ah, if I could only see my own face,” murmured Aurora.

“If you only _could_!” said Jack.

“Why don’t you look in a mirror?” asked the Candy Kid.

“Mirror--what is that?” inquired Aurora. “I never heard of such a thing. What is a mirror?”

“A mirror,” said the Candy Kid, “is a device that always attracts the attention of the ladies. You can see your face in it.”

“If I had one could I see _my_ face?” asked Aurora eagerly. “You could,” answered the Candy Kid.

“I want a mirror!” shouted Aurora. “I want a mirror. If I don’t get a mirror, I’ll turn on the red light and I’ll never turn it off. I’ll chop off everybody’s head if I don’t get a mirror.”

The Candy Kid leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Santa Claus always carries one in his coat pocket so he can see to rub the smut off his face when he climbs out of the chimneys.”

Aurora dashed over to Santa Claus.

“Aren’t you ashamed,” she shouted. “Here I’ve been asking for a mirror and you wouldn’t lend me yours. I’ve a notion to--there, never mind--let me have it. You don’t need to see _your_ face, you know, for you’re ugly and old, while I--” and she snatched the mirror from him. “Now everybody stand back, please,” she gurgled, “and give me room. I’m going to see my face for the first time.”

The crowd watched with bated breath, while Jack and the Kid sniggered. Aurora took the mirror proudly, held it up before her, and gazed into it.

“There’s some mistake about this mirror,” she cried. “Some ugly old woman has looked in it and her face has stuck in there. She won’t get out.” Then to her reflection in the mirror, she shouted, “Get out of there, you ugly thing--get out!”

But of course as long as she stared at the mirror her reflection stared back at her.

“Who do you suppose that is?” she asked the Candy Kid.

“Why, that’s _you_,” he replied.

“Do I look like that?” she screamed.

“Worse,” answered Jack-in-the-Box, briefly. A flash of red light burst from the golden crown, and the crowd fled in terror. Then the light changed to blue, to green, and all the colors of the rainbow, every color trying to get out of the top of the crown at once. “Oh, see the pretty fireworks,” said Jack-in-the-Box, pointing to the lights.

Finally, overcome by grief and rage, Aurora swooned, and tumbled over on the marble paving.

“My goodness!” said the Candy Kid, “she’s going to melt.”

“Not a bit of it,” said Jack-in-the-Box, “she’s run down. There’s something wrong with her works.”