ly
audible to Gilbert.

She showed Gilbert the way upstairs, while the doctor went to his study.

"Are you a friend of Master Carl's?" asked Jane, as soon as they were
alone.

"Yes, Jane."

"And where is he?"

"At my house."

"Is he goin' to stay there?"

"For a short time. He wants to go out into the world and make his own
living."

"And no wonder--poor boy! It's hard times he had here."

"Didn't Mrs. Crawford treat him well?" asked Gilbert, with curiosity

"Is it trate him well? She was a-jawin' an' a-jawin' him from mornin'
till night. Ugh, but she's an ugly cr'atur'!"

"How about Peter?"

"He's just as bad--the m'anest bye I iver set eyes on. It would do me
good to see him flogged."

She chatted a little longer with Gilbert, helping him to find Carl's
clothes, when suddenly a shrill voice was heard calling her from below.

"Shure, it's the madam!" said Jane, shrugging her shoulders. "I expect
she's in a temper;" and she rose from her knees and hurried downstairs.

CHAPTER V.

CARL'S STEPMOTHER.

Five minutes later, as Gilbert was closing the trunk, Jane reappeared.

"The doctor and Mrs. Crawford would like to see you downstairs," she
said.

Gilbert followed Jane into the library, where Dr. Crawford and his wife
were seated. He looked with interest at the woman who had made home so
disagreeable to Carl, and was instantly prejudiced against her. She was
light complexioned, with very light-brown hair, cold, gray eyes, and a
disagreeable expression which seemed natural to her.

"My dear," said the doctor, "this is the young man who has come from
Carl."

Mrs. Crawford surveyed Gilbert with an expression by no means friendly.

"What is your name?" she asked.

"Gilbert Vance."

"Did Carl Crawford send you here?"

"No; I volunteered to come."

"Did he tell you that he was disobedient and disrespectful to me?"

"No; he told me that you treated him so badly that he was unwilling to
live in the same house with you," answered Gilbert, boldly.

"Well, upon my word!" exclaimed Mrs. Crawford, fanning herself
vigorously. "Dr. Crawford, did you hear that?"

"Yes."

"And what do you think of it?"

"Well, I think you may have been too hard upon Carl."

"Too hard? Why, then, did he not treat me respectfully? This boy seems
inclined to be impertinent."

"I answered your questions, madam," said Gilbert, coldly.

"I suppose you side with your friend Carl?"

"I certainly do."

Mrs. C