an] THE SILVER FAIRIES, 125

 

solemnly: ‘If I bean’t too bold: an’t you werry
cramped in that there old consarn, and if so be as
you know so much and can move about so uncommon
nicely, why don’t you take your pleasure over the
whole place instead of boxing yourselves up in a
prison like ?’

The fairy smiled at this question, but less
pleasantly than before. ‘Simon,’ she replied, ‘“ mind
your own business” is a very good rule, and one to
which I should strongly advise you to adhere if you
mean to do well. Fairies are governed by laws
which mortals cannot understand and which it would
be impossible for me to explain to you. Moreover,
we have a great dislike to being asked questions
about ourselves, and invariably refuse to answer.
When I asked you just now if there was anything
you wanted to know, I referred entirely to matters
concerning your own welfare and happiness, upon
which I should have been happy to have enlightened
you. But, since you have nothing to ask, I will stay
here no longer. I may as well tell you, by the bye,
the manner in which, during my residence here, you
can summon me if you should at any time require my
assistance. You must be alone—or at least have no
more than one other person, and that a relation—with
you, and you must not call upon me before evening,
or later than four o’clock in the morning. When you
want me, open the piece of furniture, tap three times
upon the desk and pronounce the word ‘ chuck-a-
chuck’ as distinctly as you can. Either I or one of
my attendant fairies will certainly respond to the call
if adjured by this mystic expression. And now, fare-