136 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [ir.

new, crisp bank-notes, looking as if they had just
come from the Bank, and so closely packed that the
amount of wealth which they represented was evidently
considerable. With trembling hands Simon began to
remove the treasure from the drawer, and as he did so,
to his intense surprise and delight, found. that the
bulk appeared still undiminished, so that apparently
he had here an inexhaustible supply of wealth, beyond
anything which he had ever hoped for in his wildest
dreams. He bade Dolly call Martha Pattison in, and
at the sight of such riches the old lady actually forgot
her grievances and went off into a series of exclama-
tions which betokened her joy and astonishment.

‘Oh my!’ she cried. ‘ Did anybody ever? Lauks-
a-mercy! God bless the King and all the Royal
Family ! Goodness gracious me! I never did!’ and
with many other interjaculations of a similarly inco-
herent character did the worthy dame proceed to dis-
close the emotions of her soul.

Dolly was overwhelmed also. I cannot say what
visions floated before her eyes as regards the future,
but of course she felt that there would be some change
in the whole order of their lives, consequent upon this
transition from comparative poverty to unheard-of
wealth, and probably she was somewhat more doubt-
ful and uncertain about the matter than her elders.
For Dolly was young, and youth does not as a rule
set its affections upon wealth, at all events in the same
way that it is loved by those who have left their young
days and young feelings behind them. She was glad
for her grandfather’s sake, but I doubt whether her
personal gratification was intense, and perhaps if the