122 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. (ui.

to be the case, haunted by beings who were more than
mortal, how could he tell whether they would be
friendly or the reverse to the man who had brought
them and their abode from a place to which they were
very probably bound by the strong ties of old associa-
tion? For all he knew, they might bitterly resent
their removal, and visit the consequences upon his
devoted head.

Simon was not left long in doubt upon the ques-
tion which he thus asked himself with some trepida-
tion. After their dance had continued for a short
time, the music suddenly ceased, when the little
figures ranged themselves on each side of the plateau
on which they had been performing, and bowed with
deep and courteous respect as another figure, very
little larger than the biggest of themselves, emerged
from the centre pigeon-hole, walked calmly and
deliberately down their ranks, carelessly nodding its
head right and Icft, until it reached the end of the
desk, when it gave a slight cough, cleared its throat,
and was evidently about to address the wonder-struck
Simon. This figure was clad, like the rest, entirely in
frosted silver, and was only to be distinguished from
the others by the circumstance that the cap which it
wore upon its head was circled by a broad band of
pure gold. Its demeanour was graceful and dignified,
and as its dress gave no particular indication of its
sex, Simon marvelled whether it was male or female,
until it opened its mouth, when the tones of its voice
proved to be far softer and sweeter than those which
commonly fall to the. let of the rougher portion of
created beings. It was evident at once to the old