would only take her mask off! With a great effort he asked--"And
she--will she befriend me when I have gone from my father and mother?"

With the deepest assurance Father Time replied, "Give her your
affection and she will befriend you in every hour of loss and pain,
clear to the end of your journey--and beyond."

"But," said Everychild, "she--she doesn't look very--she looks
rather--rather fearful, doesn't she?"

"She is beautiful only to those who love her," said Father Time.

This seemed reassuring; and now Everychild ventured to address the
Masked Lady directly. "And--and will you go with me?" he asked timidly.

She replied with great earnestness: "Everychild, go where you will, you
have only to desire me greatly and I shall be with you."

Then it seemed to Everychild that it would not be a very terrible thing
to go away, after all.

It was plain that Father Time and the Masked Lady were waiting for him
to go; and so without any more ado he boldly approached the door which
opened out upon the street. But his heart failed him again. He drew
back from the door and cried out--"No, no! I cannot. I cannot go out
that way. Is there no other way for me to go?"

It seemed to him that his heart must cease to beat when Father Time
exclaimed in a loud voice--