It is the skeleton in their cupboard.
We haven't got a skeleton in our family," she added regretfully; "least of all the skeleton of a cook." John remembered vaguely that there was a story about the second marriage of Sir Timothy the elder.
"So she was a cook!" he said.

"Well, what harm ?" and he laughed in spite of himself.

"I wonder why there is something so essentially unromantic in the profession of a cook ?" "Her family went to Australia, and they are quite rich people now: no more cooks than you and me," said Sarah, gravely.

"But Happy Jack won't leave Youlestone, though he says they tempted him with untold gold.

And he wouldn't touch his hat to Sir Timothy, because he was his cousin.