“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. [Illustration: The Queen Sees her Face] “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.” Chapter XIX You can readily understand Maida was not at all comfortable in that box. It was very dark inside and very stuffy and hot. The box jolted and swayed till it nearly made her seasick; and to add to her woe she hadn’t the faintest idea what would become of her, for she knew that sooner or later they would discover she was a little girl and not a toy. After what seemed ages and ages, though no doubt it was only an hour or so, the box ceased tipping and tilting, and came to a stop. Dimly through the wooden sides of her prison she heard voices, and realized she was the subject of a conversation. “What have you in the box?” said one voice. “The most wonderful toy you ever saw,” was the reply, and she recognized the tones of her captor. “Toy?--Huh!” sneered the first speaker. “What kind of a toy?” “A marvellous doll,” answered the other. Then there were shouts of laughter and derision, and it seemed that all the acquaintances and companions of the little Page were teasing him, calling him “Girl Baby,” and asking him why he didn’t wear dresses; in short, behaving just as boys would behave at home if they saw a schoolmate with a doll. But their mirth died away and the teasing ceased when the Page opened the box, threw the lid back--and pulled Maida to her feet.