This was a comfort to Ralph, who sat picturing to himself the silent flattery which Dr.Small's eyes paid to his Aunt Matilda, and the quiet expression of pain that would flit across his face when Ralph's name was mentioned.

And never until that moment had Hartsook understood how masterful Small's artifices were.

He had managed to elevate himself in Mrs.White's estimation and to destroy Ralph at the same time, and had managed to do both by a contraction of the eyebrows! But the silence was growing painful and Ralph thought to break it and turn the current of talk from himself by asking after Mrs.White's son.
"Where is Walter ?" "Oh! Walter's doing well.

He went down to Clifty three weeks ago to study medicine with Henry Small.

He seems so fond of the doctor, and the doctor is such an excellent man, you know, and I have strong hopes that Wallie will be led to see the error of his ways by his association with Henry.