What do Mr Wilson and Governor Bellingham assume based on Pearls answer to their question about Hesters parenting ability Why according to the narrator does Pearl not give the answer she kno?

Mr. Wilson and Governor Bellingham assume that Pearl's refusal to answer their question means she cannot testify to Hester's suitability as a parent. The narrator suggests that Pearl deliberately chooses not to answer out of a mix of loyalty to her mother and a deeper understanding of the situation beyond her years.