I1I.] THE SILVER FAIRIES. 169

household, had been such as he could never have
hoped to defray save by the assistance of the treasure
drawer, and with its loss there seemed nothing before
him but utter ruin. This thought, and perhaps in
addition some little remorse at having seemed un-
grateful to his benefactors the Silver Fairies, cut the
old man to the heart. His knees trembled beneath
him, his voice would not come at command, and he
stood before the old piece of furniture the very
picture of hopeless misery. But with Dolly it was
happily otherwise. Her loving heart felt more deeply
for the blow which had evidently fallen with such
severity upon her aged relative than for any possible
consequences to herself, and to shield him from harm
was her first and only thought at that moment.
Throwing herself on her knees before the Fairy Queen,
she addressed her in an earnest voice of entreaty.

‘Oh please don’t say such cruel things to grand-
‘father, great Fairy! Indeed and indeed it wasn’t his
fault ; it was Martha Pattison and I who persuaded
him to want more money, and to be grand and great,
and to move from the dear old home and come here.
Don’t let A212 be punished for our fault! Oh please
don’t! Just think what an old man he is, and how
hard it will be for him to be so poor.in his old
age! Do punish me instead, and let grandfather off!’
As she spoke these pleading words, the tears stood in
Dolly’s eyes, and presently rolled down her cheeks,
and she clasped her hands in the intensity of her
earnestness, ;

The Fairy Queen looked upon her and smiled
pleasantly.