"I heard nothing."

It made him feel almost forlorn to have the cook say she had not
noticed anything. He drew closer to her. "Never mind the kite now,"
he said. "I want you . . . Oh, don't you see anything at all? Please
look!" He stood with one finger on his lip, staring at Father Time and
the Masked Lady.

She regarded him almost with alarm. "Lord bless the child, what's
coming over him?" she exclaimed. "There's nothing there!" She
followed the direction of his eyes, and then she looked at him with an
indulgent smile. "There, put your kite away," she said. "It's all
right now except for that rent in it. I'll mend that to-morrow. And
try to be a good boy. You mustn't be fanciful, you know!"

She patted him on the back and then she left the room.

He stood quite forlorn, watching her depart. Then with nervous haste
he made as if to follow her. But at the door, which she had closed, he
stopped. You could tell that he was making up his mind to do
something. Then he turned slowly so that he faced Father Time and the
Masked Lady. Presently he took a step in their direction. And at
length, with a very great effort, he spoke.

"Please--tell me who you are!" he said.

It was Father Time who replied. He replied in a voice which was quite
thrilling, though not at all terrifying: