"Come over the wall, then," said he. "The best place for you to learn is on our drive. I'll try and find one of the other fellows to help teach you; for of course you'll go tumbling all over everywhere, and we might as well try to save the wheel."
Teddy wondered if no effort was to be made to save her as well as the wheel; but she said nothing, and quickly climbed the wall.
The Misses Middleton meanwhile were discussing the situation.
"I know the child is speaking the truth," said Miss Thomasine, again and again. "Some one else is responsible for the accident. Now let us consider who it can have been."
"Not one of the servants, I am sure," said Miss Middleton. "They have lived with us too long for us not to know that they would confess if they were guilty; and who else has been in the house to-day?"
"Sister Adaline, you forget! Some one--there have been others! Do you not remember?"
"Melissa, do be more explicit, I beg of you!" cried Miss Joanna. "It is so easy to say what you mean, if you would only try it. Who else has been in the house?"
"Dear Joanna, you are so abrupt! Dorcas, you remember?"
But Miss Dorcas had discovered a mistake in her knitting, and was busy counting.
"Four, five, six, seven," she said aloud, to show them that she could not speak.
"I am astonished that you have the heart to knit, when the Middleton bowl is broken, Dorcas!" exclaimed Miss Joanna. "Melissa, kindly tell us what you mean."
But her sister's manner was apt to frighten the faltering Melissa, and she was now looking for her salts.
"I think I know whom Melissa means," said Miss Thomasine, suddenly. "Two or three of the Hoyt boys accompanied Theodora when she came with the cat."
Miss Melissa nodded. There was not a sound for a moment, the new idea presented by this recollection was so astounding.
"Do you think--" began Miss Joanna, and then stopped, for once unable to finish her speech.
"It seems really--but then--perhaps--" murmured Miss Melissa.
"Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen. I should not be surprised," said Miss Dorcas, laying down her needles at last.
"I am sure that it was not Theodora," repeated Miss Thomasine, more earnestly than ever.
"There were several boys in the house," continued Miss Joanna, "and I should not be at all surprised. Adaline, suppose we order the carriage at once and drive to Mrs. Hoyt's. What do you think of it?"