To avoid paining her by saying what was in his mind, he went out to milk, and on returning found the baby sleeping naturally.
"He seems much relieved," Aunt Nancy said as she put him to bed. "He will probably sleep a long while, and you had better get some rest."
Jack insisted that he did not need any, and continued doing such chores as he could find around the house until breakfast was ready, after which he proposed going to the post-office.
"Now the letter is written it had better be mailed, an' perhaps there are some things you want from the store."
"I do need a few notions; but it seems too bad to have you walk so far this hot morning."
"It'll do me good. I can be back by noon, and the weather won't be very warm while I'm goin' over."
Aunt Nancy allowed herself to be persuaded, because there really were some groceries she wanted, and after making out a list with infinite care, cautioning him not to pay more than five cents a pound for the coarse sugar and eighty cents for the tea, she gave him a lunch to be eaten during the return journey.
"I don't want you to stay any longer than is necessary; but at the same time you mustn't hurry too fast," she said, as he walked rapidly down the lane; and Jack replied,—
"I'll be back by noon, unless something terrible happens."
Although the hunchback could not move as fast as more favored boys, he "kept at it," to use his favorite expression, and by this means was able to get over the ground with reasonable rapidity.