But a moment later, when he looked over the end of the pew to see if it was safe, he was furious to perceive that it was gone.

He skirmished up the aisle after it again, red in the face, and uttering sentences which were very much out of place in the sanctuary.

However, he put the hat down again and determined to keep his eye on it, but just as he turned his head away for a moment Mrs.
Smiley came in, and Potts looked around only in time to watch the hat being gathered in under Mrs.Smiley's skirts and carried away by them.
He started in pursuit, and just as he did so the hat must have rolled against Mrs.Smiley's ankles, for she gave a jump and screamed right out in church.

When her husband asked her what was the matter, she said there must be a dog under her dress, and she gave her skirts a twist.

Out rolled Mr.Potts' hat, and Mr.Smiley, being very near-sighted, thought it was a dog, and immediately kicked it so savagely that it flew up into the gallery and lodged on top of the organ.