When Miss Vale left the piano and came back, she scolded her sharply for her idleness.
"You have only done one tiny sum this whole half-hour! For shame, Faith!"
Faith hung her head.
"I couldn't seem to think it out," she said.
"Where is Charity? I did not hear her leave the room."
Faith made no reply. After waiting a little, Miss Vale went to the door and called. There was no answer. Aunt Alice came out of the kitchen, and said she had not seen her. Hope was sent upstairs to look for her, and came back to say she was nowhere in the house. Faith's cheeks were burning, and there was such a troubled look in her eyes that Miss Vale noticed it.
"You know where she is, Faith. Tell me."
Faith wriggled in her seat. It was a point of honour with the sisters never to tell tales of each other.
"I don't know where she is now, Miss Vale, I really don't," Faith murmured at last.
"Tell me what you know about her."