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," shesaid.
Gilbert followed Jane into the library, where Dr. Crawford and his wifewere seated. He looked with interest at the woman who had made home sodisagreeable to Carl, and was instantly prejudiced against her. She waslight complexioned, with very light-brown hair, cold, gray eyes, and adisagreeable expression which seemed natural to her.
"My dear," said the doctor, "this is the young man who has come fromCarl."
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 tolive in the same house with you," answered Gilbert, boldly.
"Well, upon my word!" exclaimed Mrs. Crawford, fanning herselfvigorously. "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 seemsinclined to be impertinent."
"I answered your questions, madam," said Gilbert, coldly.
"I suppose you side with your friend Carl?"
"I certainly do."
Mrs. Crawford bit her lip.
"What is the object of your coming? Does Carl wish to return?"
"I thought Dr. Crawford might have told you."
"Carl wants his clothes sent to him," said the doctor. "He only carrieda few with him."
"I shall not consent to it. He deserves no favors at our hands."
This was too much even for Dr. Crawford.
"You go too far, Mrs. Crawford," he said. "I am sensible of the boy'sfaults, but I certainly will not allow his clothes to be withheld fromhim."
"Oh, well! spoil him if you choose!" said the lady, sullenly. "Take hispart against your wife!"
"I have never done that, but I will not allow him to be defrauded of hisclothes."
"I have no more to say," said Mrs. Crawford, her eyes snapping. She wasclearly mortified at her failure to carry her point.
"Do you wish the trunk to be sent to your house?" asked the doctor.
"Yes, sir; I have packed the clothes and locked the trunk."
"I should like to examine it before it goes," put in Mrs. Crawford,spitefully.
"Why?"
"To make sure that nothing has been put in that does not belong toCarl."
"Do you mean to accuse me of stealing, madam?" demanded Gilbert,indignantly.
Mrs. Crawford tossed her head.
"I don't know anything about you," she replied.
"Dr. Crawford, am I to open the trunk?" asked Gilbert.
"No," answered the doctor, with unwonted decision.
"I hate that boy! He has twice subjected me to mortification," thoughtMrs. Crawford.
"You know very well," she said, turning to her husband, "that I havegrounds for my request. I blush to mention it, but I have reason tobelieve that your son took a wallet containing twenty-five dollars frommy bureau drawer."
"I deny it!" said Gilbert.
"What do you know about it, I should like to ask?" sneered Mrs.Crawford.
"I know that Carl is an honorable boy, incapable of theft, and at thismoment has but thirty-seven cents in his possession."
"So far as you know."
"If the money has really disappeared, madam, you had better ask your ownboy about it."
"This is insufferable!" exclaimed Mrs. Crawford, her light eyes emittingangry flashes. "Who dares to say that Peter took the wallet?" she wenton, rising to her feet.
There was an unexpected reply. Jane entered the room at this moment toask a question.
"I say so, ma'am," she rejoined.
"What?" ejaculated Mrs. Crawford, with startling emphasis.
"I didn't mean to say anything about it till I found you were chargingit on Master Carl. I saw Peter open your bureau drawer, take out thewallet, and put it in his pocket."
"It's a lie!" said Mrs. Crawford, hoarsely.
"It's the truth, though I suppose you don't want to believe it. If youwant to know what he did with the money ask him how much he paid for thegold ring he bought of the jeweler down at the village."
"You are a spy--a base, dishonorable spy!" cried Mrs. Crawford.
"I won't say what you are, ma'am, to bring false charges against MasterCarl, and I wonder the doctor will believe them."
"Leave the house directly, you hussy!" shrieked Mrs. Crawford.
"If I do, I wonder who'll get the dinner?" remarked Jane, not at alldisturbed.
"I won't stay here to be insulted," said the angry lady. "Dr. Crawford,you might have spirit enough to defend your wife."
She flounced out of the room, not waiting for a reply, leaving thedoctor dazed and flurried.
"I hope, sir, you are convinced now that Carl did not take Mrs.Crawford's money," said Gilbert. "I told you it was probably Peter."
"Are you sure of what you said, Jane?" asked the doctor.
"Yes, sir. I saw Peter take the wallet with my own eyes."
"It is his mother's money, and they must settle it between them I amglad Carl did not take it. Really, this has been a very unpleasantscene."
"I am sorry for my part in it. Carl is my friend, and I feel that Iought to stand up for his rights," remarked Gilbert.
"Certainly, certainly, that is right. But you see how I am placed."
"I see that this is no place for Carl. If you will allow me, I will sendan expressman for the trunk, and take it with me to the station."
"Yes, I see no objection. I--I would invite you to dinner, but Mrs.Crawford seems to be suffering from a nervous attack, and it might notbe pleasant."
"I agree with you, sir."
Just then Peter entered the room, and looked at Gilbert with surpriseand wrath, remembering his recent discomfiture at the hands of the youngvisitor.
"My stepson, Peter," announced Dr. Crawford.
"Peter and I have met before," said Gilbert, smiling.
"What are you here for?" asked Peter, rudely.
"Not to see you," answered Gilbert, turning from him.
"My mother'll have something to say to you," went on Peter,significantly.
"She will have something to say to you," retorted Gilbert. "She hasfound out who stole her money."
Peter's face turned scarlet instantly, and he left the room hurriedly.
"Perhaps I ought not to have said that, Dr Crawford," added Gilbert,apologetically, "but I dislike that boy very much, and couldn't helpgiving him as good as he sent."
"It is all very unpleasant," responded Dr. Crawford, peevishly. "I don'tsee why I can't live in peace and tranquility."
"I won't intrude upon you any longer," said Gilbert, "if you will kindlytell me whether you will consent to make Carl a small weekly allowance."
"I can't say now. I want time to think. Give me your address, and I willwrite to Carl in your care."
"Very well, sir."
Gilbert left the house and made arrangements to have Carl's trunk calledfor. It accompanied him on the next train to Warren.