“Then tell me as much as you wish me to know,” urged Miss Elting.

“In the first place,” began Harriet, “I wish to ask your advice on a matter that is troubling me.”

Miss Elting smiled encouragingly.

“I am listening.”

“It is about that hazing affair.  Suppose a girl had been asked if she knew anything about it and she had declared that she did not.  What then?”

“You mean that she did know something about it but pretended that she did not?”

Harriet nodded.

“Then she would be an unfit associate for this body of fine girls.  Harriet, what do you mean?  You don’t, you can’t mean——­”

“Oh, no, no!” protested Harriet, flushing to the roots of her hair.

“Of course not.  Forgive me for even suggesting it, my dear.  Please go on.”

“But suppose that another girl did not know who were the guilty ones at the time she was questioned, and that afterwards she had a strong suspicion as to their identity?  What then?”

“You have given me a difficult question to answer, Harriet, I should not like to answer it without knowing more about the circumstances relating to it.  Tell me who the girl is that is suspected?”

“But you are a guardian,” rejoined Harriet.  “Were I to tell you it would be your duty to inform the Chief Guardian of what you had heard.  Would it not?”

“My dear, I fear it would,” was the reply.

“Then I shall not answer your question.  I want to talk with you as I would to a friend, not as a guardian in Camp Wau-Wau.  Suppose some girl had made this discovery after she had denied knowing anything about the affair, would it then be her duty to inform the Chief Guardian?”

“Perhaps it would.”

“She would be a talebearer.  I should not like to have any friend of mine carry tales, would you, Miss Elting?”

“No, Harriet, I would not.  Much would depend upon circumstances though.  I fear such a case as you suggest must be one for the girl to decide for herself.”

“Would she be acting dishonorably if she did not tell what she had learned?”

“Most decidedly not.”

“And if she were asked about it by a guardian later on and refused to answer, she still would not be acting unfairly to herself or her superior?”

“Wait, wait.  You hurl your questions at me so rapidly that you do not give me time to think.  As I have said before, you must be your own judge in your own case.”

“I did not say that it was my case.”

“No, that is true.  However, I do not believe that Harriet Burrell could do a dishonorable act if she tried ever so hard,” smiled Miss Elting.  “Put your head down here on my lap, Harriet, and be comfortable.  Does any one else know?”

Harriet shook her head that lay in Miss Elting’s lap.

“Then let matters rest as they are for the present,” replied the teacher.  “Let us hope that the girl’s conscience may trouble her so much that she will confess her part in the affair to Mrs. Livingston.  That will relieve you of all responsibility.”