"And you kept this secret all to yourself this week?" cried Eleanor, looking at Miss Miller with a kindlier expression.
"Eleanor," said the Guide, catching at that tiny hope of softening the stubborn girl, "I do not think another member in the Band dreams that you had anything to do with the missing chest, and I do not think anyone but you and I suspects the truth."
"And you let me come with the Tribe knowing this about me?" Eleanor's gaze dropped to the ground and she sat thinking.
According to Miss Miller's code, when one began to think earnestly over anything, or tried introspection of one's self, it was a symptom of recovery, even though there might be a long siege of diseased conditions before perfect health was attained. So she remained silent waiting for Eleanor to think some more.
"You're either mighty fair to me or you're keeping this thing quiet for fear others will hear of it and so belittle your influence with the girls," finally declared Eleanor.
"Don't you think you are judging unfairly, after you just said 'I was fair'? Why should I hesitate to make you resign from our Tribe for doing a dastardly trick with May's box? No one but you and I would ever know the truth about it, and I'm sure you wouldn't mention it to anyone, because you are heartily ashamed of the deed. If I was afraid of others' opinions about my Band of Girls, I would make you resign before any other tricks were perpetrated by you. But I _am_ fair and I want to see you make good, now that you have this Woodcraft opportunity, hence I am talking to you instead of sending you away."
"Then, all I can say, is, that you're all right!" declared Eleanor. But in another second she felt suspicious again.
"I suppose, now that I've admitted the deed, you'll have me up for a public reprimand. It goes with a teacher's ideals of training!"
The Guide could not but admire the girl's quick mental powers and thought what a wonderful woman she would make if her character and mind were but trained properly instead of along the lines of this present example.
"I thought we might arrange it this way, if I had your word of honour that you would work hard to destroy the 'little foxes that destroy the vines'; you can replace the chest by leaving it at my home, or send it by messenger to the gymnasium Monday noon. I will put it in the closet and send a note to May saying that the box was found but the conditions for return were that no questions were to be asked. At the same time I expect you to volunteer the information, thus clearing the school children."