both had
gone. She had inquired of her neighbours, and had been told that three
men had come to the house at daybreak, and that when they went away
Tamsin and Naomi rode with them in the carriage they had brought.

It was well Naomi's father was with me, for my mind was too confused to
ask the necessary questions. I reproached myself for trusting Tamsin and
for not taking better precautions. I felt I had by my own foolishness
lost my love and again allowed her to be in the power of my enemies. I
thought of a score of things I ought to have done, while Mr. Penryn
asked many pointed questions.

We were about to take to the saddle again when Tamsin Truscott rushed
into the house. The poor girl's face was as pale as that of a ghost, and
she trembled from head to foot.

"Forgive me, Jasper," she cried.

I did not speak, for I knew not how to control my words.

"Oh, Jasper, I--I could not help it. It was so hard, so terribly hard.
I--I loved you, and I thought that when she was gone you would forget
her, and then--"

She did not finish her sentence, but sobbed bitterly, as though she was
in sore straits and truly contrite, as, indeed, I thought she was.

She went on to utter many words of self-accusation. She confessed that
she had betrayed Naomi's hiding-place, with many other things which I
need not here write down.

"Where is she now?" I cried angrily.

"She is being taken to Padstow," she said. "You know why."

"Is it the priest?" I asked.

"Yes," she answered, "and the Tresidders."

"Let us get to our saddles," I cried, "we may get there before they."

"Yes, you can if you ride hard."

"What about horses?" said Mr. Penryn; "these are poor nags; they were
the best I could get, but they are spent with a twenty miles' ride."

"They will last to Falmouth," I cried, "we must get fresh ones there."

"God forgive me, but I have no more money," he said, and at this I, too,
hung my head, for I was penniless.

I looked to Eli, but before the dwarf could speak Tamsin had caught my
hands.

"I have plenty, Jasper," she cried. "Oh, let me help you! It was all my
fault, let me do what I can now."

"Where is your money, girl?" asked Mr. Penryn.

"It is at Kynance, Jasper," she said, not noticing him; "father is not
yet home, and we can get there before he returns."

"It is scarcely out of our way," I said to Mr. Penryn, and it seemed our
only hope. And so we went thitherward, although I had grave doubts as to