The idea had taken hold, and another young mind that up to that moment had looked on Death as a visitor to other families, not hers, had got to face the black terror--just as terrible a mystery, just as cold a cloud, when that which dies is what none would wish should live, as when all worth living for seems lost with it. Even the opportune removal of an Uncle Bob turns the whole world into an antechamber of the great Unknown, and veils the sun in heaven. Nobody had died, in Lizarann's immediate circle, so far, and as for outsiders that was their look out! Uncle Bob wasn't wanted certainly, rather the reverse; but none the less the two large eyes that were fixed on Miss Fossett's informing face filled slowly with tears, and their small owner's hands came out towards her, feeling for something to cry on. Yes!--Uncle Bob was dead, and would never mend any more boots; thus, substantially, the testimony of Teacher, confirming and amplifying the deluge that followed. It was some time before mere awe of Death allowed Lizarann to refer to the fact that Daddy would never enjoy Uncle Bob's society again; there may have been ambiguity here--was it all unmixed disadvantage?--and still longer, quite late in the day, in fact, before her reflections reminded her that Mrs. Hacker's married daughter Sarah, having wore her cloze out, took up with Mr. Brophy, her present husband. A reminiscence evidently recording the exact language of older persons than herself. * * * * * "What did you say was the name of that gentleman you met at Royd, Yorick?--the amusing one?..." "Brownrigg?" "No--the other." "Challis." "The same name as the author?" "He _is_ the author. Titus Scroop is his _nom-de-plume_. Why do you ask?" "Because it must be his wife I wrote Mrs. Steptoe's character for last week. Mrs. Alfred Challis, The Hermitage, Wimbledon." "Oh yes--that would be. How did you know of her?" "That Mrs. Eldridge--she's a sort of cousin, you know--wrote to see if I knew of a cook." "But you knew nothing about Mrs. Steptoe's cooking." "No--but she can try." "I don't call that conscientious." "Oh, my dear Yorick? Isn't that just like you now? If everyone was such a dragon, no one would ever do a good-natured action." "_Was_ it good-natured--to Mrs. Challis?" "It may turn out so. Mrs. Steptoe may be a real treasure." The above is short and explains itself. The time of it may have been three days after the previous story time. CHAPTER XIX HOW AUNT STINGY BECAME MARIANNE'S COOK. A MOST OFFENSIVE BIBLE CLASS. MR. CHALLIS'S JUDITH. ESTRILD AND THE OSTROGOTHS. THE ACROPOLIS CLUB