he rubbish heap,
that's all.

"Last and dearest of all, there's my Bible. It wouldn't fetch a penny
anywhere, for it's old and yellow and thumbed, and the back is loose;
but its value to me, love, is just priceless, and I should hardly die
happy unless someone had it who would love it too. Now that's your
share."

I drew her hand to my lips and kissed it; she knew what I was feeling.

"Give Reuben the old grandfather's clock. It is oak and will match his
furniture, and he can give his mahogany one to Ben. Reuben has always
admired the clock, and he will be pleased I remembered him. Let my
clothes go to any of the neighbours who are poor and need them. And
the lamp which his scholars gave Matthew when his health failed and he
had to give up teaching-----"

She paused, and I held my peace. It was a chaste and artistic
production in brass, which had always seemed to me rather out of place
amid its homely surroundings, and I should not have been sorry if it
had been amongst the treasures to be bequeathed to me...

"Yes, dear," I said at length, "the lamp?"

"I want you to ask Mr. Derwent, love, to accept the lamp. He admired
it very much, and he has been so very nice to me; and give him the
china, too.

"You will not live here alone, Grace, when I am gone. Mr. Evans will
want you, and you will not have to deny him then as you have done
previously for my sake. These old eyes have seen more, love, than you
have realised, and I am very grateful. The Lord bless you!

"Both the cottages are mine. I bought this one when Matthew died, and
Reuben sold me the other one, just as it stands, whilst you were away,
and we arranged to keep it a secret for a while. Then there will be
about L1,500 in the bank and Building Society when everything has been
paid. I have thought a great deal about what to do with it, and I am
going to leave both the cottages, with all the furniture, for the use
of poor widows who otherwise might have to go to the workhouse; and the
interest on the money will keep them from want.

"I haven't much head for business, but a lawyer will work it out all
right. You see, love, I was left comfortably off by Matthew, and I
think the Lord would like me to remember that all widows are not so
fortunate; and I don't want to forget that it is His money I have to
dispose of."

The tears came into my eyes now and I could not speak. The sun was
shining brightly outside, but within that humble room th