Rachel looked at him in surprise. "I don't see what he can know of it, Herbert; the poor girl left his house while he was out."
"Quite so; but he followed her!"
"How do you know?"
"I was coming up from Grimleigh on the night Bithiah disappeared. As I climbed that path which goes to the field, I met our pastor coming from it. He looked wild-like, and tore past me like a storm-wind. I did not know then what he was after; now I make sure he was in search of Bithiah."
"Not to kill her, Herbert," cried Rachel, shuddering; "not to kill her!"
"No; I don't say that, Rachel."
"He had no reason to kill her, you know. He loved her. A man does not kill the woman he loves. A minister, set high as an example to the congregation, does not break the sixth commandment."
Rachel turned on Mayne with a look of wrath in her usually mild eyes. "Herbert Mayne, for shame!" she cried furiously. "Shame upon you that you say such things! I would as soon believe my own father killed Tera, as Mr. Johnson."
"I don't want to accuse the pastor," said Herbert, gloomily; "but if he does not know how she came by her death, who does?"
"I believe that Bithiah, or Tera, as I should call her, carried away her pearls on that night, and was killed by some tramp who wished to rob her."