Faith shook her head.
"She couldn't tell tales, Miss Vale," said Hope, "'specially if Charity's doing something she oughtn't. It's quite exciting! I do wonder where she is?"
"I'm afraid, Faith, you must tell me what you know," said Miss Vale.
And then Faith began to cry.
"I don't know anything," she sobbed; "I only saw her from the window going out at the gate."
She felt she had betrayed her sister most meanly, but Miss Vale had such a determined way with her, that she was compelled to tell the truth.
It all seemed strange and perplexing.
Then Miss Vale said lessons must continue, and for the rest of the morning she had two pupils with very wandering thoughts and divided attention.
When lessons hours were over, Charity was still absent. Miss Vale went home, and the children had their dinner. Granny was anxious, and Aunt Alice cross.
"I can't conceive how she dared behave so," Aunt Alice said. "She has never before gone off like this."