There was only one thing left to do, once Miss Pandora had been fixed up and made perfect, and that was to wind her up and set her going. I couldn’t bear to do it that night, for the sooner she was going, the sooner she would be going, so I laid my hand upon her perfect cheek and told her, “Sleep well, Miss Pandora, and I’ll wake you in the morning.” I’d have sneaked a kiss, too, but it ain’t right to take advantage of them as can’t speak for themselves.
It must have been the motion of my hand that made her eyelids flutter once more.
The next day I bit that bullet, took out the silver key I’d fashioned for her windings, and set it into the concealed socket at the nape of her graceful neck. I turned it quick, before I could talk myself out of it. Then I took out the key, covered up the so
