Everychild

looked at them steadily they might vanish. He knew at once that they were not to be treated just as if they were ordinary persons. It was not

went on untangling the kite,

ot know they are here. She does

ere not paying any attention to him at all, and

as a much more pleasing person than he had been in his picture. It is true that he carried a scythe, just as he had been pictured as doing.

uld tell by looking at them that if you were to hurt yourself Father Time would pity you and comfort you. He had a rather jolly figure. You could imagine he might be very playful. An

n shimmering white. She was very fair and her hair was dressed beautifully. She wore a band about her hair and there was a jewel in it, like a star. She wore a little mask over her eyes so that you coul

e touched the cook on the hand. "Didn't it

's getting darke

t you hear any

rd not

er to her. "Never mind the kite now," he said. "I want you ... Oh, don't you see anything at al

llowed the direction of his eyes, and then she looked at him with an indulgent smile. "There, put your kite away," she said. "It's

the back and then

ad closed, he stopped. You could tell that he was making up his mind to do something. Then he turned slowly so that he faced F

me who you

eplied in a voice which was quite th

rue friends o

saw you before. I may have seen your picture. Yours, I mean. Not the-the lady's. And I'm not

d, "Everychild, I have come to bid you leave all that has

frightened. "All that has been closest?" he repeated. "My

ewell to father and moth

all I never see them again?" He wished very much to approach Father Time and plead with him; but

aid. And then he again made a polite gesture toward the Masked Lady

he would only take her mask off! With a great effort he asked-"And s

your affection and she will befriend you in every hour of

doesn't look very-she looks rat

y to those who love h

ntured to address the Masked Lady directly. "

child, go where you will, you have only to

at it would not be a very terri

boldly approached the door which opened out upon the street. But his heart failed him again. He drew back f

must cease to beat when Father

Every

y!" he repeated. "The wide world lie

Fear lives outside that door. But him you

imed Everychild wondering

, and a way s

u are alone. And Everychild could not help shrinking back as he stood with his fascinated eyes held on the door. He was staring at the door, yet he knew that t

hen the door began to open, inch by inch, ve

e nothing but the peeping eyes which leered horribly. And when the Giant Fear perceived

ribed. He carried a great bludgeon. From his lower jaw a yellow tusk arose at either corner of his mouth and projected

r the Masked Lady. He dropped one end of his bludgeon to the floor with a thump,

presence. The wicked smile on his terrible face began to freeze slowly. The great creature shrank away from Father Time; and as he did so he became aware of t

d it seemed that he must fall if the giant advanced another inch. Nor did the giant fail to note that Everychild w

were getting read

hattered as he repli

voice he said, "You know me, I suppose?-the G

e of Father Time: "The Giant Fea

hat Everychild ceased to despair. With trembling limbs he ran to Father Time. "If you

"The scythe of Father Time is a wonderful weapon; b

nted majestically

child saw that she held a

tly Everychild, addressing Father Time,

r Time replied: "You may, an

in peril. He drew near to the Masked Lady, and he could s

turned about, holding the sword forward, as the Masked Lady had held it. He co

es shone more than ever. He took a step forward, and he knew that his knee

d your

it nearly fell. He became as pale as death, and it was quite impossible for him to meet Everychild

th the speed of lightning, holding his sword before him. It was a very sharp sword, an

ipped from his grasp and his eyes became

could be heard. It was all very wonderful.

restored the slim sw

ish to keep i

of the sword, now that the Giant Fear was dead.

, "Alas, the greatest need of my

rer. He lifted his eyes and beheld the door which had always stood be

Time: "The moment has arriv

h the music, which

ed valia