111.] THE SILVER FAIRIES. 111

 

It is well-known to persons who have considered
the subject that there is no question the correct
answer to which is more entirely a matter of opinion
than what is the best way to spend a holiday. Dif-
ferent people have different ideas upon this important
subject. Some like a trip to the sea-side. ‘A happy
day at Rosherville’ has its attractions for others ; while
there are those who firmly believe no other enjoy-
ment to be equal to that of sitting still with your
hands in your pockets, doing absolutely nothing.
None of these, however, would have suited Simon
Ricketts, whose great delight upon his leisure days
was to frequent public auctions. There was some-
thing fascinating to him in all the circumstances
attending such transactions. The pleasure and pri-
vilege of being able to walk into somebody else’s
house and wander all over it as if you were its master,
were highly valued by Simon, although enjoyed in
common with the rest of the world. He loved to look
over all the lots, to scrutinise the china as if he knew
all about it, to gaze upon the pictures as if he were
an artist born and bred, and to wonder what various
articles would fetch of the cost and value of which he
knew absolutely nothing. Then, the proceedings of
the auctioneer were of enormous interest to Simon,
and he would watch the biddings for each article as it
was put up, with a gravity and attention which one
would hardly have expected from a person in his con-
dition of life.

Upon this occasion Simon had been no less eager
and attentive than usual. He had seen the old port-
wine (so well known among those friends of the de-