"That's nice. I like pretty things--faces, flowers, and pictures. I can shut my eyes and see them--oh, such crowds of them, disappearing and coming up again. I am sorry for poor Dr. Porter. Perhaps you will see Miss Emily again." "I hope so." "There was little Alice Goldsmid; she was my sweetheart"--he was wandering now--"and she died a long, long time ago. I shall see her. She wore a white dress and a blue necklace. Is that you, father?" "Yes, my boy," replied Mr. Meadows, who, with his wife, had just entered the room; "do you feel better?" "Much better; oh, so much better! Give me your hand, father." He took it and held it to his lips. "Did you hear about Timothy and his new-laid egg?" "Mother has told me about it, my boy." "Is mother here?" "Yes, my dearest." A sudden strength animated Teddy's frame. "I could almost sit up alone," he said; and he strove to rise. "You had better lie and rest, my boy," said his father. "But I have something to do," he said, "that mightn't be thought of afterwards. Though if you did think of it I am sure you would do it, because it would give me pleasure." "We would do anything to give you pleasure, my boy." "I know you would, father, and thank you for all your goodness to me. It shall never be forgotten--never. Please help me up." They humored him, and propped him up with pillows. Timothy was now sitting at the foot of the bed, and the dying lad's parents one on each side at the head. Their hands were clasped at his back, forming a frame for their dear one, in which he found support. "Mother and father," he said, "I am going to make my will." As he said this Timothy saw in his face the same half-wistful, half-whimsical expression he had observed upon his first entrance into the sick-room. The tears which welled into the mother's eyes at mention of a will--a strange fancy to enter the brain of one so young--almost blinded her. Mr. Meadows's eyes were tearless, but he suffered none the less. "First, though, I must say good-bye to Harry and Joe and Nelly." These were Teddy's brothers and sisters, all younger than he. "Good-bye!" murmured the mother. "Oh, my poor boy, my poor boy!" "It is right," said Teddy; "it is, isn't it, father? I shall see them again; but after to-night they won't see me, perhaps, for a long, long time. No, don't take your arm away, father; I like it where it is, and mother's." He turned to each of them, and received their loving kiss. "Tim will go and bring them up. And, Tim, don't say anything to them about my dying; it might frighten them, and they wouldn't understand. Tell them that Teddy wants to kiss them good-night. Not good-bye, Tim, good-night." Timothy went down-stairs and brought the youngsters up, telling them to be very quiet, as brother Teddy's head ached badly. "Lift them up, Tim," said Teddy. "Good-night, Harry." "Good-night, Teddy," said Harry. "Won't you get well soon, and have larks?" "You shall have plenty of fun, Harry. Say God bless you, Teddy."