"But, Tom, I've had such strange thoughts about death lately.

I've never told a soul of them, not even my mother.

Sometimes I think they're wrong, but, do you know, I don't think in my heart I could be sorry at the death of any of my friends." Tom was taken quite aback.

"What in the world is the young un after now ?" thought he; "I've swallowed a good many of his crotchets, but this altogether beats me.

He can't be quite right in his head." He didn't want to say a word, and shifted about uneasily in the dark; however, Arthur seemed to be waiting for an answer, so at last he said, "I don't think I quite see what you mean, Geordie.