thinking," said Miss Lloyd; "thank you for
your advice, Betty. I'm sure my ring will not be safe, and I can't keep
it safe myself; well then, what shall I do?"

'"Couldn't you trust it to somebody, to take care of for you, ma'am?"
said another woman.

'"Thank you, that's a very good idea. I think it's the best thing I can
do. Now let me think," said Miss Lloyd; "I must get some one who is
_able_ to take care of it, and who is _willing_ too. Oh! I know," she
said; "there's my brother--he is _able_. He has a strong box at the
bank, where he keeps his papers; he can put it in there, and I feel sure
he will be willing to do it for me. I hear his voice in the next room;
I'll call him in, and ask him."'

'And did she ask him?' said grandmother.

'Yes, she brought him in, and she said: "Now, Arthur," she said, "these
friends of mine advise me to trust my ring to you. I can't keep it safe
myself, but I feel I can trust you. I know you are able to keep it for
me whilst I am away; I commit it to your care." So up she got from her
seat, and handed the ring in its little case to Mr. Lloyd, and he put it
in his waistcoat pocket, saying, as he left the room, "All right, Emily,
don't you trouble about it; I'll take care of it."'

'Well, my dear,' said grandmother, 'all that was very nice, I've no
doubt; but how it makes you any happier to die, it beats me to see.'

'Oh, but you haven't heard the end of it, grandmother,' said Poppy's
mother.

'No, nor I won't hear it till you've had a cup of tea, my dear. You're
as white as a sheet. I oughtn't to have let you talk so long.'

But when she had had the tea, and an hour's quiet sleep, and when the
babies were asleep, and grandmother and Poppy were sitting beside her
in the twilight, the poor woman went on with her story.

'When Mr. Lloyd had gone, grandmother, his sister said, "I can't thank
you all enough for your good advice. I feel quite happy about my ring.
And now you won't mind my asking you what are _you_ going to do with
_your_ treasure?"

'"Well, ma'am," said old Betty, "the only ring that I have is my wedding
ring, and that's not worth sixpence to anybody but myself, so I don't
suppose it stands much chance of being stolen."

'"Betty," said Miss Lloyd, turning to her, "you have a treasure worth
_far, far_ more than my ring. I mean your precious soul, which will live
for ever and ever and ever somewhere; your undying self, Betty. Only
your body will go in the grave;