"Why, my boy, tomorrow another century rounds its mark. To be brief, tomorrow is my birthday. My five hundredth birthday."
"Well, congratulations, Phoenix!"
"Thank you, my boy. Five hundred.... Destiny.... Have I mentioned before, my boy, that I have a magnificent destiny?"
"No. What is it, Phoenix?"
"I—well, it is strange, my boy, but I do not know ... but that it is magnificent no one can doubt."
"Do I have one too?"
"Of course, my boy. We all do."
David was glad of that. He did not know exactly what a destiny was, however, and he tried to think of how one would look. But the only picture which came to his mind was that of a small, mousy creature (his destiny) looking up in admiration to a splendid thing of flame and gold, dazzling to the eyes—the Phoenix's mysterious destiny.
He said, "We'll have to do something special tomorrow to celebrate, Phoenix."
The Phoenix looked thoughtful. "I think we had better do whatever we are going to do today," it said.