I keep it here," holding up the bent little finger of her left hand.

It had a clumsy silver ring on it, square and thick in the middle, bearing deep-cut Sanskrit letters.

"It is a dear little alternative," she went on, "like a bit of brown sugar.
Rather a nice taste, I believe,--and no pain.

When I am quite tired of it all I shall use this, I think.

My idea is that it's weak to wait until you can't help it.