How is the way Pearl told to act around Dimmesdale in public different from how she is encouraged to act around him in private? Explain why this would confuse a small child.

Pearl is encouraged to "get to know" him in private when she and her mother are alone with him. In public, however, she is to remember he is the minister, an upstanding community member. She cannot "out" him to the people. This would be confusing because she is an intuitive child, but she is so young she would not be able to differentiate the adult reasons for the difference in her behavior that is expected.

And besides, she doesn't even know him for gods sake.