y, in which were seated
Aunt Eunice and himself. This was a combination which, as Katy related
it from the window, greatly astonished Moses. Yet there was nothing
surprising in the fact, after all. The gentleman had chanced to be
up-mountain, calling at the same house where Miss Maitland was visiting,
and had offered to take her home, hearing her say that she was anxious
to be there early on the morrow.

She had not enjoyed her ride, yet blamed herself for her aversion to a
neighbor who, if not a gentleman, had learned sufficient good manners to
conduct himself as nearly such. The worst annoyance he had given her was
by continual and roundabout references to what had happened in the
forest. The more she evaded his questions the more direct they became,
till she was almost forced to tell everything or be imputed a liar.

As they turned into the village street he made a final effort for
enlightenment, saying:

"You must know, Miss Maitland,"--he did not call her "Eunice" to her
face as he had done behind her back to Susanna,--"you must know that in
keeping this treasure, or whatever was found in your woods, a secret
from others, you are injuring somebody. They say you are conniving at
the escape of a tramp, even. A tramp! One of those dangerous creatures
which infest our State, but have not before invaded Marsden. I flatter
myself that I--that I--have so far prevented their coming, and I am
certainly making it my business now to unearth this one who, I am told,
lurks principally in your forest. You are a large-hearted, generous
lady, Miss Maitland; one who is an honor to her township and whom I am
proud to call a neighbor--"

"Indeed? I thank you," said Aunt Eunice, stiffly.

Squire Pettijohn ignored the interruption. He meant to make the most of
this unlooked-for chance to satisfy his curiosity and his
self-importance, and continued as if she had not spoken:

"But who, I fear, sometimes lets her heart run away with her head. In
pitying the individual, namely, the tramp in present question, you
should also remember that you are endangering the community."

"Nonsense. But may I ask, in turn, from whom you gained your information
that I protected the tramp?"

"Hm-m--Er--Ah! I believe it was Mrs. Turner who said that you said you
'hoped if any poor hungry wretch strayed into this village of plenty he
would get enough to eat for once.' That you 'had always regretted we had
no really poor people in Marsden, where they