I1.J THE SILVER FAIRIES. 121

 

but always gracefully, so that it was impossible not to
admire them even in their most grotesque postures,
The music varied too, in a manner which enabled the
performers to exhibit their powers to perfection. Now
it was slow and solemn, and the movements followed
it faithfully, everyone of them displaying a mixture
of dignity and graceful action very pleasant to behold;
anon, when the tune was more lively, their motions
corresponded with the change, and as it became
faster still, more and more animated was the perform-
ance of the dancers.

Simon Ricketts, as may be well supposed, gazed
upon the scene before him with the greatest astonish-
ment. He had let his pipe fall from his mouth, and
leant forward in his arm-chair, with his hands on his
knees, staring forward at the strange proceedings
which were taking place, and keeping his eyes firmly
riveted on the wonderful little beings who had so
unexpectedly favoured him with a visit. Like every-
one else, Simon had certainly heard of fairies, but his
knowledge of them was but very limited, as his life
had been one of too practical a character to admit of
much enquiry into the existence and habits of such
strange beings, and his education had been too much
neglected to allow of his having read or studied much,
even upon such an important subject. He was very
certain, however, that those upon whom he now gazed
were no ordinary, every-day creatures, and after the
first moment of wonder had passed, the thought
crossed his mind that his new purchase might, after
all, turn out to have been dear at the money. Suppose
it was, as seemed beyond the possibility of a doubt