o go home until it was time to go to bed.

Though Robert had no money to spend, he kept on his way slowly toward
the village store. He felt mortified and angry.

"Poor Aunt Jane!" he said to himself. "It's a shame that she should have
to go without her tea. She hasn't much to cheer her up. Mrs. Jones is
about the meanest woman I ever saw, and I hope Aunt Jane won't do any
more work for her."

It occurred to Robert to follow his uncle's direction and ask for credit
at the store. But he knew very well that there would be little prospect
of paying the debt, and, though a boy, he had strict notions on the
subject of debt and could not bring his mind, even for his aunt's sake,
to buy what he could not pay for.

When we are sad and discouraged relief often comes in some unexpected
form and from an unexpected quarter. So it happened now to our young
hero.

Walking before him was an elderly gentleman who had on his head a Panama
straw hat with a broad brim.

He was a Boston merchant who was spending a part of the season at Cook's
Harbor. As his custom was, he was indulging in an evening walk after
supper.

There was a brisk east wind blowing, which suddenly increased in force,
and, being no respecter of persons, whisked off Mr. Lawrence Tudor's
expensive Panama and whirled it away.

Mr. Tudor looked after his hat in dismay. He was an elderly gentleman,
of ample proportions, who was accustomed to walk at a slow, dignified
pace and who would have found it physically uncomfortable to run, even
if he could be brought to think it comported with his personal dignity.

"Bless my soul, how annoying!" exclaimed the merchant.

He looked about him helplessly, as if to consider what course it would
be best to pursue under the circumstances, and as he looked he was
relieved to see a boy in energetic pursuit of the lost hat.

This boy was Robert, who grasped the situation at once, and, being fleet
of foot, thought it very good fun to have a race with the wind.

He had a good chase, for the wind in this case proved to be no mean
competitor, but at last he succeeded and put his hand on the hat, which
he carried in triumph to its owner.

"Really, my boy, I am exceedingly indebted to you," said Mr. Tudor, made
happy by the recovery of his hat.

"You are quite welcome, sir," said Robert politely.

"You had a good run after it," said Mr. Tudor.

"Yes, sir; the wind is very strong."

"I don't know what I should have done withou