126 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. (rt.

 

well for the night.’ So saying, the fairy kissed her hand
gracefully to the old milkman, walked back through
the ranks of her followers to the centre pigeon-hole,
entered it, and disappeared from sight.

The other fairies speedily followed the example
of their queen, all making friendly and respectful
bows to the mortal before they retired for the night.
When they had all re-entered their pigeon-holes, the
desk slowly shut itself up again, and the old piece of
furniture resumed its ordinary appearance of quiet
though quaint respectability.

When Simon Ricketts found himself alone again
he pondered deeply over the scene which had just
passed before his eyes, and the words to. which his
wondering ears had listened. This was the most ex-
traordinary thing that had ever happened to him in
the whole course of his existence. He had seen, in
his time, many curious things and had known of
many queer-looking and strangely-fashioned articles
of furniture, but never had he before encountered one
which concealed within itself such marvellous inhabi-
tants, nor had he ever believed that such beings as
those whom he had that day seen were really the
occupants of any place accessible to mortal men.
But Simon had always been accustomed to believe
his own eyes, and, this being the case, the fact of the
existence of the Silver Fairies was no longer a matter
of doubt with him. Moreover, being an individual of
a practical turn of mind, he at once determined to
take what advantage he could of their presence in his
house. That presence might certainly be turned to
good account. There was no reason to doubt the