A Tale of Two Choices by Bassoonist PG

"Hrrmph" growled Noah, "Very well - now go stand in line for the gruel."

Dorothea left quickly and joined the head of the queue. In front of her was Jane Bagthrop, Dorothea's only real friend, a pale and consumptive child, not long for this world.

"Jane," whispered Dorothea, "look at this," and she pulled out the locket. "I found it whilst sewing. I think someone must have dropped it."

"But Dorothea..."