“Oh, yes, I will tell you.  I must tell you.  I am bursting, I shall go mad if I do not tell some one.  But Jane, you must keep secret what I tell you.  You must promise me that.”

“If it’s your secret, I’ll promise.  If it isn’t, I won’t promise.”

Harriet regarded her companion steadily for a moment.

“I must tell you,” she whispered.  Then, haltingly, at first, Harriet told Jane that Cora Kidder had slipped away in the night and gone to the dance at “The Pines.”  There could be no doubt of it.  Jane learned from Harriet of the conversation that she had overheard, was reminded of the visit of Mr. Collier the day before and was made acquainted with Cora’s return to the tent while the Camp Girls were at their breakfast, a time when one might be certain of finding the camp clear of prying eyes.

Jane’s face wore a serious expression.

“You say his sister went with them?”

“That was the plan.  But, oh, Jane, I am suspected of treachery.  I know Miss Partridge and Miss Elting suspected that I was deceiving them this morning.  I didn’t mean to, but I just couldn’t see Cora disgraced and sent home.  Don’t you see what it would have meant to her?”

Jane regarded her thoughtfully.

“Cora doesn’t like you, Harriet.  She and Patricia are your enemies, but I don’t know why.  I have wondered if those two girls didn’t have something to do with that soup affair.  Do you know that Cora came into the cook tent from the front just as you sat down that night?”

“Yes, I know she did.  She helped to haze me that night too.  And—­and—­oh, Jane, don’t betray her, but I overheard Cora and Patricia talking the other night.  Words were dropped that left no doubt in my mind that Cora had done that awful thing.”

“Spoiling the soup?”

“Yes.”

“The miserable sneak!” exploded Jane.  “Let me tell her!” Jane sprang up.  Her face was flushed, her eyes snapping.

“Oh, no, no, no!  She isn’t to blame.  It is Patricia, who is so vengeful, and Cora is so weak.  She has been influenced by the other girl.  Oh, you mustn’t, you mustn’t say a word to her!  Promise me that you will not.”

“I’d like to tell her what I think of her,” breathed Jane in a low, tense voice, shaking a clenched first “Oh, wouldn’t I like to.”

“You must keep out of it.  I must suffer for my deception.  Oh, Jane, I can’t stay here after this.  I never shall be able to look any of them in the face after this.  Go away now and let me think.”

Jane left her companion abruptly.  On her way back toward the campfire she saw Miss Partridge hurrying to Cora’s tent.  The Assistant Chief Guardian remained inside but a few moments after which she was seen returning, walking with less haste.  Harriet stole into the forest that she might be alone.

Miss Partridge, satisfied that all was well with Cora was puzzling her mind as to what had so disturbed Harriet, when Jane seeing her return, acted upon a sudden impulse and hurried to Cora Kidder’s tent.  She paused in the doorway.  Cora was in her wrapper, looking as if she had just gotten up.