Ernest Henry displayed his bump, and explained its origin; and then, even as he did so, was aware that the reality of the bump made the other world just a little less real.

He was proud that he had walked and stood up, and had been the master of his circumstance; but just because he had done so he was aware that his friend was a little, a very little farther away to-night than he had ever been before.
"Well, I'm very glad that you're going to stand on your own, because you'll have to.

I'm going to leave you now--leave you for longer, far longer than I've ever left you before." "Leave me ?" "Yes.

I shan't always be with you; indeed, later on you won't want me.
Then you'll forget me, and at last you won't even believe that I ever existed--until, at the end of it all, I come to take you away.

_Then_ it will all come back to you." "Oh, but that's absurd!" Ernest Henry said confidently.