166 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [riI.

 

doubt. Simon gave a groan from the very bottom of
his heart, and sank into the nearest chair. Visions of
ruin passed before his eyes at that moment. Here
were his riches apparently swept away in an instant,
and what was to become of him he knew not.

Rousing himself, however, by a mighty effort, he
determined to ascertain the full extent of his mis-
fortune, and for that purpose proceeded to open every
drawer in the piece of furniture, but alas! with
exactly the same result. The fountain of bank-notes
had evidently dried up, and thg wealth of Simon was
atanend. One more hope remained: the Fairy might
besummoned. Before venturing, however, upon this
experiment, the old man thought it best to break the
news to his female relations, and. accordingly pro-
ceeded to the drawing-room, from which they had
not yet retired for the night. His strange and haggard
appearance struck both the women at once,

‘Oh, Grandfather!’ cried Dolly, ‘what zs the
matter? What /as happened ?’

Then Simon unfolded the tale he had to relate,
and the consternation it created may be more easily
imagined than described. Both Martha and Dolly
agreed that the only hope remaining was to summon
the Fairy once more, and as Dolly’s presence had
been successful upon the last occasion, it was settled
that she should go with her grandfather to the study
in the present crisis. The two, therefore, marched
off to the room without further delay, with the inten-
tion of using the means which they had been bidden
to employ in order to summon the Silver Fairy when
they required her advice. Those means, however,