Only his head, which had remained uncovered, was reflected there!
"Well of all—" he began, astounded at the vision before him, or rather the lack of it. Hastily he pulled the hood over his head, and immediately, as far as the eye could see, he completely vanished.
And then Jack knew what had happened.
The fairy godmother had given him one of the choicest possessions of her kingdom—the famous invisible cloak!
Ten minutes later Jack found himself passing through the Subway gate at Forty-second Street, entirely unobserved by anybody, and therefore relieved of the necessity of paying his fare. The invisible cloak was doing its duty nobly, but a moment later the lad had an example of its dangers as well as of its virtues, for as he sat quietly by the door of the car trying to collect his flustered thoughts, a very stout German gentleman got aboard the train and sat down heavily upon him. He did not stay, however, but on the contrary, with a startled cry of alarm, rose up as quickly as he had sat down.
"DERE ISS SOMEDINGS IN DOT SEADT, ALRETTY YET!"
"Dere iss somedings in dot seadt, alretty yet!" he cried to the guard, excitedly.
Jack slipped noiselessly out of the seat, and the guard, after feeling around in it for a second or two, turned with scorn upon the astonished Teuton, and in language of a slightly unparliamentary cast advised him to change his diet.