Dr. Wilson reached the hall nearly as soon as the preceptress was ready for him. With the proffered assistance of John, Alice was conveyed to her room, where she was laid on the bed, groaning terribly.
"A sad accident, miss!" said the doctor, bending over her.
She opened her eyes and said feebly, "I have broken my arm. I—"
"Get me some camphor or sal volatile," urged the physician, "she is faint; or stay, I have some ammonia."
When she revived, the young lady complained of severe pain in the side and difficulty in drawing a breath. The doctor soon discovered that, in addition to her broken arm, she had broken two ribs.
It was more than an hour before the jacket he wished for a support to her side could be prepared. And then her poor arm must be carefully splintered, so that a second message came from Dr. Bowles before he could leave.
As yet Miss Salsbury had found no time to inquire into the particulars of the accident; but after the patient, under the influence of an anodyne, had fallen asleep, she learned that soon after she rode from the door, Alice and Ella started from the hall for a walk; one of the teachers remembering the fact from the circumstance of Miss Saunders wearing her dress, hat, and mantilla.
Ella returned in less than an hour, saying her companion had extended her walk to the village. Miss Salsbury instantly sent for Ella, who, since the accident, had sat in her room crying bitterly. She was now completely humbled and ready to confess everything.
The preceptress listened with horror as the child unfolded a long tissue of falsehoods into which she had been led by her artful friend.
"I haven't been happy at all as I used to be," sighed Ella. "I wanted to confess to you how wicked I have been, and how wicked Ned was growing, for he has told Dr. Bowles a great many lies; but Alice wouldn't let me."