The boys were all perfectly willing now that she should use their wheels, for she soon rode as well as they did, and as there were so many bicycles in the family, there was usually one that she could take.
One afternoon Teddy had been off on quite a little excursion by herself. She was on Arthur's wheel, and she had gone "around the square," as they called it, coming home by a back way. Just as she drew near her aunts' house a heavy shower which had been gathering for some time, unnoticed by Theodora, came pattering down.
There was hail as well as rain, and Teddy rode quickly to the house and went in by the kitchen door. She took the wheel in with her and placed it in the back hall, in an out-of-the-way corner, intending to return it to Arthur as soon as the storm should be over.
But it lasted longer than she expected, and by the time it had ceased to rain supper was ready. It was quite dark now by six o'clock, and Theodora knew that her aunts would not allow her to go out alone so late, so she determined to get up early the next morning, and take the wheel back then. She said nothing of this plan, however, and did not mention to her aunts that a hated bicycle was in the house.
In fact she was not at all sure that she was doing right to ride without their permission, and she made up her mind that she would tell them to-morrow. Now that she had attained her object, and had learned how, she would not mind so much if she were forbidden by them to ride, for she was sure that when her father and mother returned to this country in the spring they would buy her a wheel, and until then she could wait. Indeed, she hoped, from what she had heard her mother say, that Mrs. Middleton would learn to ride herself, in spite of the sentiments of her sisters-in-law upon the subject.
Eight o'clock was Teddy's bedtime, and she bade her aunts good-night at that hour as usual. She had been asleep but a short time when she was awakened by a commotion in the hall, most unusual in that quiet household. There were hurried footsteps and half-smothered exclamations, and presently she was quite sure that she heard moans of pain.
Springing out of bed, she ran to the door and opened it just in time to see Miss Thomasine hurry through the hall with a mustard plaster in her hand, while in the distance appeared Miss Melissa with a hot-water bag, and from another room emerged Miss Dorcas with a bottle of medicine.
"What is the matter, Aunt Tom?" asked Teddy. "Is any one sick?"
"Your aunt Joanna is very ill," whispered Miss Thomasine, as she passed.
Much startled, Teddy went back to her room and waited. Then she concluded to dress herself and go to her aunt's door to see if she could be of any help. This did not take long, but when she knocked at the door it was opened by Miss Dorcas, who told her that she had better not come in.