The other guardians may remain here."
Mrs. Livingston rose, as did the two teachers whom she had named. A heavy
silence settled over the cook tent after the three women had disappeared
into the kitchen, a small tent at the rear of the cook tent. They were
gone for some time. Finally, Mrs. Livingston and Miss Partridge returned.
Miss Elting was not with them. The Chief Guardian's face wore an
expression of sternness such as none of the girls ever had observed there
before.
Harriet appeared wholly to have lost her appetite. She was making a brave
effort to eat, but the food choked her. The meal was finished in silence.
At the conclusion of the meal, Mrs. Livingston rose and requested the
girls to come to order.
"Young ladies," she began, "a most serious thing has occurred. I make no
accusations. Miss Burrell, where is the key to your supply box?"
"I hung it on a nail on the outside of the tent pole just behind my work
table, Mrs. Livingston."
The Chief Guardian turned to Miss Partridge.
"Do you mind bringing Miss Burrell's key and box, Miss Partridge?" she
asked. The young guardian rose promptly and left the tent. A few moments
later, she returned bearing a galvanized box, slightly larger than a
baking powder case. This she placed on the table before the Chief
Guardian, laying a key beside it.
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