Meena’s effort to hide the truth from her mother does not reflect lack of guilt, since Meena feels very bad about losing the necklace, but can be understood in light of the fact that Meena would have to explain the entire context of that evening to her mother: that she left home without telling anyone, went to the fair to see Anita, and later snuck into the Big House with her. Although losing the necklace was unintentional, her parents would disapprove of Meena’s actions before that event.