Did Dr. Small shrug his shoulder? Granny thought she detected a faint
motion of the sort, but she could not be sure.

"And I think as how that a feller what trifles with gals' hearts and
then runs off ten miles, maybe a'n't no better'n he had orter be. That's
what I says, says I."

To this general remark Dr. Small assented in his invisible--shall I say
_intangible_?--way.

"I allers think, maybe, that some folks has found it best to leave home
and go away. You can't never tell. But when people is a-bein' robbed
it's well to lookout. Hey?"

"I think so," said Small quietly, and, having taken his hat and bowed a
solemn and respectful adieu, he departed.

He had not spoken twenty words, but he had satisfied the news-monger of
Flat Creek that Ralph was a bad character at home and worthy of
suspicion of burglary.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 18: The original from which this character was drawn is here
described accurately. The author now knows that such people are not to
be put into books. They are not realistic enough.]

CHAPTER XI

MISS MARTHA HAWKINS.

"It's very good for the health to dig in the elements. I was quite
emaciated last year at the East, and the doctor told me to dig in the
elements. I got me a florial hoe and dug, and it's been most excellent
for me[19]." Time, the Saturday following the Friday on which Ralph kept
Shocky company as far as the "forks" near Granny Sanders's house. Scene,
the Squire's garden. Ralph helping that worthy magistrate perform sundry
little jobs such as a warm winter day suggests to the farmer. Miss
Martha Hawkins, the Squire's niece, and his housekeeper in his present
bereaved condition, leaning over the palings--pickets she called
them--of the garden fence, talking to the master. Miss Hawkins was
recently from Massachusetts. How many people there are in the most
cultivated communities whose education is partial!

"It's very common for school-master to dig in the elements at the
East," proceeded Miss Martha. Like many other people born in the
celestial empires (of which there are three--China, Virginia,
Massachusetts), Miss Martha was not averse to reminding outside
barbarians of her good fortune in this regard. It did her good to speak
of the East.

Now Ralph was amused with Miss Martha. She really had a good deal of
intelligence despite her affectation, and conversation with her was both
interesting and diverting. It helped him to forget Hannah, and Bud, and