erwards, rusty. There
were days when Mrs. Holman did present that appearance--when her cap
seemed to want dusting and her collar to want freshness. Her black
dress, too, looked a little worn. Sibyl was very, very sorry for her
when she saw her in this dress.

"Dear! dear!" she said; "I am glad I came. You look as if you wanted
cheering up. Mrs. Holman, I've splendid news for you."

"What is that, my dear little lady? That you have got money to buy
another toy? But Mr. Holman said only as late as last night that he
wouldn't send you another worn-out toy not for nobody. 'Tain't fair,
my love. It seems like playing on your generosity, my dear."

"But I like them," said the child; "I do really, truly. I paint them
up with the paints in my paint-box and make them look as good as new.
They are much more interesting than perfect toys, they are truly."

"Well, dear, your mother would not like it if she know we treated you
in what my husband says is a shabby way."

"Don't think any more about that now, Mrs. Holman. You both treat me
as I love to be treated--as though I were your little friend."

"Which you are, darling--which you are."

"Well, Mrs. Holman, I must hurry; I must tell you my good news. Do you
remember telling me last week that you had a hundred pounds put away
in the Savings Bank, and that you didn't know what to do with it. You
said, 'Money ought to make money,' and you didn't know how your
hundred pounds would make money. It was such a funny speech, and you
tried to 'splain it to me, and I tried to understand."

"It was silly of my husband and me to talk of it before you, Missy. It
is true we have got a hundred pounds. It is a nest-egg against a rainy
day."

"Now again you are talking funnily; a nest-egg against a rainy day?"

"Against a time of trouble when we may want to spend the money."

"Oh, I understand that," answered the child.

"And I had it well invested, but the money was paid back, and there
was nothing for it but to pop it into the Post Office Savings Bank."

"It's there still, is it?" said Sibyl, her eyes shining.

"Yes, dear."

"Well, now, what do you say to buying bits of gold with it?"

"Bits of gold with our hundred pounds?" said Mrs. Holman, staring at
Sibyl.

"Yes, that is exactly what I mean; bits of gold. You will be able to
if you keep it long enough. If you promise to keep that money safe you
may be able to buy great lumps of gold out of my father's gold mine.
My fathe