"You will go to sleep, Len."
"No ... I'm too tired ... it wouldn't be enough."
Janey's tears fell on his face.
"Don't cry, Janey ... it's—it's all right.... Remember me to the doctor ... and say my last words were 'ninety-nine' ... laugh, Janey ... it's a joke."
"Lenny, Lenny...."
There was another silence, and a faint flush tinted the watery sky. A bird chirrupped in the eaves of Sparrow Hall.
"Hold my hands tighter," gasped Len.
They both gripped tighter.
"And give my love to Tottie Coughdrop ... and say I'm sorry to have missed her.... Tighter ... oh!... tighter."