It was in Mrs Jeal's wicked mind to tell the truth to the girl. But she knew that Pearl would not accept the explanation. Besides, strange as it may seem, even Mrs Jeal had some compunction in making the girl miserable. The woman was evil to the core, but she must have had some good in her. Therefore she held her tongue on the subject of the cup. "Where were you so early this morning?" she asked. "I found your bed empty at six o'clock." "I went to the altar to find the cup brought down by the dear Master," replied Pearl, "and I was watching Sir Frank Hale and his sister going away. They drove with two horses and many boxes. I did not--" Mrs Jeal jumped up and seized Pearl's arm. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Has Sir Frank Hale gone?" "And his sister," said Pearl, twisting away with a frightened face. "They have left Colester and gone away--away, oh, far away! Oh! Oh! what are--" "Hold your tongue," said Mrs Jeal, thrusting her into a chair, "and sit you there till I come back." She hurriedly put on her bonnet and shawl. "If you stir I'll kill you," and she hurried out of the house. Pearl's news was true. There was no one in the Hale's house save an old woman who was to act as caretaker. She explained that Sir Frank and his sister had left early that morning, and by this time were on their way to London, whence they departed in a few days for the Continent. "Did they leave no message for me?" asked Mrs Jeal, her face growing black as she clenched her hand. "No; why should they?" asked the crone, contemptuously. "What have fine folks like them to do with a woman like you?" "I'll slap your face if you talk to me like that," raged Mrs Jeal, her worst nature coming uppermost. "I have influence with your master. I can have you turned away." "No, you can't," replied the other hag. "Why I heard Sir Frank say how glad he was to get away without seeing you. He called you a witch. He! He!" "He did, did he?" muttered Mrs Jeal, furiously. "Now just you--" She was going on to threaten the caretaker when she found the door banged in her face and heard the mocking laughter of the old woman behind it. Treated thus scornfully, Mrs Jeal stamped and raged like one possessed. "Not a penny," she muttered, "and he promised--ugh, the miser--the beast! I'll be even with him. There's the money for the cup. I can follow. I can--but I want more. Now that I have given up my secret"--her face grew dark as she thought of the burnt letter--"I shall be poor. Ha!" She stopped, and biting her finger looked towards the castle. "I can make her pay. This evening, then. It will be worth more than the cup. One secret is of no use. But I have another--another."