So Tommy did not fall after all. Harriet had not been certain that the cord would hold, hence she had requested the guardians to stand ready to break the smaller girl's fall. After Tommy had been lowered, Harriet swung herself down and joined the excited group below.
"Miss Burrell, kindly explain what you were doing in the tree?" demanded the Chief Guardian.
"I went up to assist my companion."
"What was she doing there—how did she chance to be in the tree?"
"I do not know, Mrs. Livingston. Tommy will know. I was not there when she climbed the tree. I heard her call and went to her assistance."
Mrs. Livingston did not say that Harriet's being near enough to hear the call before any of the others had heard it, needed explanation. Instead she turned to Tommy.
"Miss Thompson, what were you doing in the tree?"
"I wath hanging down."
"How did you get up there? Did some one lift you there?"
"I climbed. Then when I got up far enough tho they couldn't get me, I yelled."