"Before you what, Teddy?" asked Timothy, a great lump rising in his throat. "Before I go to another place," replied Teddy. "Where?" "Ah! now you ask a question, Tim." He paused awhile, and added: "But somewhere. You've been talking to mother, haven't you?" "Yes--and I met your father as I was coming here." "He was cut up, wasn't he?" "Yes." "Speaking of me?" "Yes. He could hardly get his words out." "He has been a good father--I couldn't have had a better; no boy could. My dear, good mother, too, she will feel it. They told you I was dying, didn't they?" The mournful look in Timothy's eyes was an eloquent answer. "It's true, Tim; I knew it before they did, before even the doctor did. Long ago I knew I should never live to be a man. I don't know whether I'm sorry or glad. There's Shakespeare and Sir Walter Scott--I say, isn't 'Ivanhoe' splendid?" "I don't know, Teddy. I never read it. But what about Shakespeare and Sir Walter Scott?" "They're dead, aren't they?" "Of course they are." "There it is, you see. It comes to the same thing. The only difference is in being born earlier or later." "I say, Teddy, where did you get all this from?" "All what, Tim?" "This way of talking." "Wasn't I always so?" "Not quite so; it's new, a lot of it--at least to me." "Comes from reading, I suppose, and thinking a bit, like a parrot." His mother here entered the room, with a tumbler of wine in which Timothy's new-laid egg was beaten up. "Timothy brought the egg, my love," she said; "it is new-laid." "Did he, now? Lift me up, Tim, please." Timothy raised the dying lad, and supported him in his arms, and Teddy drank the wine and egg slowly. "It's nice," he said; "it seems to make me strong." "The doctor said it would, my dear," said his mother; "it will help to make you well." Teddy looked tenderly at her. "Kiss me, mother." She took him from Timothy's arms, and for a little while the mother and son lay in a close embrace. When she was gone Teddy said: "Did you bring the new-laid egg for me, Tim?" "I must have done," replied Timothy, more cheerfully, hailing with hope the delusive sign of renewed strength in his friend, "because you've eaten it." "But intentionally?" "No Teddy, not intentionally." "It's funny you should have had one, though, just when the doctor ordered it for me. Perhaps you're in the egg business now?" This caused Timothy to laugh and Teddy to smile. "I'm not in the egg business yet," said Timothy. "How I got it is part of a story." "Your story, I can guess. You've been away a long time. Tell me everything about yourself, and everything that has happened--everything!" "It will take so long, Teddy." "All the more reason," said Teddy, with a grave smile, "why you should begin soon. Fire away, Tim. It will be a pleasure for me to lie and listen."