"Go, Everychild!"

Still he hung back. "But not that way!" he repeated. "The wide world
lies that way, and I should be afraid."

"I know," said Father Time, "that the Giant Fear lives outside that
door. But him you shall slay, and then the way will be clear."

"_I_ shall slay him?" exclaimed Everychild wonderingly. "How shall I
slay him?"

"Do not doubt, and a way shall be found."

It was just at this moment that something very terrifying occurred.
There was a stealthy step outside the door--the sort of step you hear
when it is dark and you 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 the Masked Lady and Father
Time were listening to that stealthy step too. The Masked Lady had put
aside her spinning wheel, and Father Time had become very grave.

There was a brief interval of suspense and then the door began to open,
inch by inch, very slowly. Two terrible eyes became visible.

Everychild knew immediately that it was the Giant Fear, though for a
moment he could see nothing but the peeping eyes which leered horribly.
And when the Giant Fear perceived that Everychild was terrified, he
thrust the door open wide and stood on the threshold.

He was, I may tell you at once, the most hideous creature in the world.