Cora Kidder remained closeted with Mrs. Livingston for more than an hour.  She was weeping when she emerged.  Instead of going to her tent she hurried out into the forest, in order to be away from the prying eyes and the questioning of her companions.  They saw Patricia summoned to the Guardian’s tent, then shortly afterwards they were amazed to see Jasper carrying Miss Scott’s belongings up the path that led to the log road.  Patricia, with lowered head and downcast eyes, was following a short distance behind him.  What could it all mean?  There was no answer to their eager questioning.  Hazel, Margery and Tommy were searching anxiously for Harriet.  They found her just as she was returning to her tent.

“Oh, what is it?  What is it?” begged Margery.

“I can’t tell you, dears,” answered Harriet.

“I have been unhappy, but now I am so happy and so sad.  Don’t ask me, please don’t.”

They did not press her further, but they clung closely to her, walking beside her, Tommy clinging to a hand on one side, Margery and Hazel on the other as the four Meadow-Brook Girls walked slowly toward the cook tent.  An oppressive silence hovered over the ordinarily merry party as they seated themselves at the tables.  Cora sat pale and motionless.  Patricia’s place was vacant.  No sooner had grace been said than Cora rose.

“May I speak, Mrs. Livingston?”

“Yes, my dear.”

“Girls,” began Cora.  “I have a confession to make.  I have been a despicable creature.”  Her voice faltered.  For a few seconds she threatened to break down entirely, “I have proven myself unfit to associate with good girls like yourselves.  I might never have known what a miserable contemptible girl I was had it not been for one girl who by her beautiful spirit of forgiveness showed me to myself in my true light.  It was I who hazed Miss Burrell and Miss Thompson, or who was one of the leaders in that hazing; it was I who spoiled the soup and tucked the soap into the cooking kit of Miss Burrell.  Then worse than all I deceived Mrs. Livingston by going to ‘The Pines’ to the dance last night with Mr. Collier and his sister One girl knew I had gone.  She had every reason to hate me as I thought I hated her.  But she did not speak.  Instead, she protected me.  She got herself into difficulties in trying to do so.  I might never have known what she had done for me, for she was too noble to speak of it to me, had not Jane McCarthy come to me and told me the whole miserable truth.  It was then that I saw my real self for the first time in my life.  I went to Mrs. Livingston and told her all.  Another girl was sent from the camp, sent home disgraced.  I was told that I might stay.  I don’t know why, for I also deserve to be sent away.  I now wish you girls to say whether or not I shall go.  If, after Mrs. Livingston has told you all that I cannot tell, you think I ought to go, as I feel I should, I will do so, knowing that you are right.”