"'Don't know,' said Robert; 'I can't make up my mind.'
"'Suppose you come on down to our house, and we'll have a game of ball?'
"Still Robert waited. He was fond of playing ball,—that was certain,—and he liked company better than to walk alone; why he should think of wandering off down to the river by himself he was sure he didn't know. Still something seemed to keep saying to him, 'Go this way—turn to the right; come, go to the river, 'until he said at last,—
"'No; I guess I'll take a walk this way first.'
"And he turned the corner, then he was but a few steps from the river."
"What came of the other fellow?" asked Bob.
"Why, some more boys came up just then, and he walked along with them.
"There was a large elm-tree on the river bank, and there was one particular spot under it that Robert called his seat; but he found a gentleman seated there this time; he had a book in his hand, partly closed, and he was leaning back against a tree, watching the sunset.
"He looked around as he heard Robert's step, and said, 'Good evening; will you have a seat?'
"He moved along, and Robert sat down on the grass near him; then he said,—