IIL] THE SILVER FAIRIES. 137

 

 

matter had been left to her decision she might have
asked something different from the powerful friend
who had proved so ready and so able to do what was
required,

It is impossible to say how long Simon would have
stood there fingering his newly acquired riches if at
last his granddaughter had not called his attention to
the lateness of the hour. It was long past his usual
bed-time, and rest is as necessary to an old milkman
as to anybody else. Moreover, after a short time
given to considering how and where he should stow
away his treasure, he came to the conclusion that it
would be far better to leave it where it was, and take
out notes from the drawer as he might require them
from time to time. So he stowed away those which
he had already taken out, to the value of several
hundreds of pounds, in another drawer, then closed
the treasure-drawer carefully, shut the desk, and left
the old piece of furniture to its former condition.
After this ceremony had been performed, the three
members of Simon’s family separated for the night,
each of them to get what sleep might be possible after
the strangely exciting events of the evening.

The next morning dawned brightly upon the little
household, and they assembled at the breakfast-table
with a feeling that a new state of existence was about
to open up before them. Simon conversed with
greater freedom than was his wont during the repast,
and was not above consulting both Martha Pattison
and Dolly as to the best method of employing that
wealth of which he had so unexpectedly become the
possessor. All agreed that the milk business should