“No, I went out, and when I came back I supposed May had gone to bed as she said she would, for I saw nothing more of her.”
“And she said nothing to you about going away?”
“Not a word,” untruthfully affirmed Hal.
“Yet she is not in the house; she has written to say she has gone away,” said Mr. Churchill.
“Gone away?” repeated Will, in great surprise. “Where has she gone?”
“She does not say where,” answered his father. “This must be seen to at once. Sarah, go and ask the servants if they know anything.”
Mrs. Churchill obeyed her husband, but the servants knew nothing. “Miss,” the housemaid said, had told her she had a headache, and would not sit up to supper. She had not seen her go out, and “miss” had requested her not to go into her room, as she hoped to go to sleep and did not wish to be disturbed.
This was all Mrs. Churchill learned in the kitchen, but when she again went up to May’s bedroom she found that a small leather trunk, that belonged to her, and nearly all her best clothes, had also disappeared. Her flight, therefore, had been clearly premeditated. Someone also must have assisted her, as it was almost impossible that she could have carried away her trunk herself.
Mrs. Churchill went down and told her husband all this, and he once more questioned the boys, but both denied they knew anything about it; Willie truthfully, Hal untruthfully.