an to whimper aloud, and struggle fiercely with Hepsy, who
restrained him from running after the family. To make matters worse, the
yearling colt got out of the barn-yard, Sam having afforded him an
opportunity by leaving the doors open on both sides of the barn. Mr.
Royden had to get him back; for it would not do to let him follow the
team to church, and Sam, with his lame foot, could not have kept him out
of the road.

Mrs. Royden took advantage of this delay to arrange some portion of her
dress, which she had neglected in her haste. Her husband had shut the
colt up, and returned to the horse-block, before she was ready. His
temper was now on the point of bursting forth, as the clergyman saw by
his fiery face, knitted brows and quivering lips.

"Calmly, calmly, brother!" said Father Brighthopes, cheerily. "Take it
easy. Keep cool. Heat and passion always make bad things worse."

"I know it!" exclaimed Mr. Royden. "I will keep cool."

He laid down the reins, and took his seat quietly on the horse-block,
wiping the perspiration from his brow.

"Let affairs take their course," said he. "If we don't get to meeting at
all, it will not be my fault. I have done my best."

"Mother, why don't you come?" cried Sarah, impatiently.

Mrs. Royden bustled out of the house, pulling on her gloves. Her husband
helped her up very deliberately, then took his seat calmly and coolly
with Father Brighthopes. At length they started, Sam holding the large
gate open as they drove through.

"Hepsy!" cried Mrs. Royden, looking back.

Mr. Royden stopped the horses.

"You needn't stop. I can tell her what I want to."

"If you have any directions for her, we may as well wait," said he,
quietly.

"Drive on, if you are in such a hurry," retorted Mrs. Royden. "I only
wanted to tell her something about the spare-rib. I thought I could make
her understand."

They now flew over the ground at a rapid rate, until Willie began to
scream.

"Oh, my hat! my hat!"

"Father, why don't you stop?" exclaimed Mrs. Royden, grasping her
husband's arm.

"Whoa! whoa! What is the matter?"

"Willie's hat has blown off."

This seemed the climax of disasters. Willie's hat lay in the road,
already forty yards behind. Mrs. Royden began to scold Sarah for not
attending to the strings, and tying them so that it could not be lost.

Meanwhile Mr. Royden, struggling with his temper, got down and went back
for the hat. On his return, his wife seized it, and