"Go on, go on," said his wife; "never mind Old Tom."
"Well, as I was a-saying, they came towards me slowly and solemnly, and at every third step crying all together, Miaou!—"
"Miaou!" said Old Tom again.
"Yes, just like that, till they came and stood right opposite Mr. Fordyce's grave, where I was, when they all stood still and looked straight at me. I did feel queer, that I did! But look at Old Tom; he's looking at me just like they did."
"Go on, go on," said his wife; "never mind Old Tom."
"Where was I? Oh, they all stood still looking at me, when the one that wasn't carrying the coffin came forward and, staring straight at me, said to me—yes, I tell 'ee, said to me, with a squeaky voice, 'Tell Tom Tildrum that Tim Toldrum's dead,' and that's why I asked you if you knew who Tom Tildrum was, for how can I tell Tom Tildrum Tim Toldrum's dead if I don't know who Tom Tildrum is?"
"Look at Old Tom, look at Old Tom!" screamed his wife.
And well he might look, for Tom was swelling and Tom was staring, and at last Tom shrieked out, "What—old Tim dead! then I'm the King o' the Cats!" and rushed up the chimney and was never more seen.
