ess Aureline. Everywhere they came the people made way for them and
whispered, "Look! look! That is the great magician who had come to show
his magic before the Princess Aureline."

At last they reached an open square, and there was the greatest crowd
of all. On a raised platform covered with silver cloth, and with steps
leading up to it, were two thrones; upon one of the thrones sat a tall,
fierce-looking man dressed in black velvet, and with a crown upon his
head cut entirely from one great black diamond; upon the other throne
sat a beautiful young princess. She was as pale as a lily and as
beautiful as the day, and was dressed in shimmering white. Her hands
were clasped in her lap and her face was very sad.

On the steps that led to this platform stood two heralds in black and
white with trumpets in their hands, and all about were ranged soldiers
two and two. They made Teddy think of the toy soldiers he had been
playing with, only they were as big as men, and instead of being gay
with red paint they were in black.

As soon as Teddy and the Counterpane Fairy appeared in this square, the
two heralds blew a loud blast and come down to meet them. "Make way!
make way for the magician!" they cried, and they escorted him and the
fairy through the crowd to the foot of the steps.

The King of the Black-Country stared at him, and his eyes were so black
and piercing that Teddy felt afraid.

"Are you the great magician?" he asked.

"Yes, I am," answered Teddy, bowing.

"Then let us see some of this magic that we have been hearing about,"
said the King; "and harkye, Magician, if you can make the Princess smile
you shall have whatsoever you wish, even to the half of my treasure."

Teddy bowed again, and then he set the chest on the ground, and drawing
from his girdle an iron key he unlocked it and put back the lid. There
was the paper circus, just as he and Harriett had cut it out:
the acrobat and the lovely lady, the horses, the clown, the
ring-master,--not one of them was left out.

With his magic wand, Teddy drew upon the ground a circle, and then,
while everybody round craned and stretched their necks to see what he
was about, he took out the figures and set them, one by one, in the
ring. Then he waved his wand over them and cried "Abraca-dabraca-dee!"

All the people stood on tiptoes, and the King himself leaned forward to
see,--but nothing happened.

"Abraca-dabraca-dee!" cried Teddy again.

Still nothing happe