"So have I, but she is the soul of kindness,
and makes our home the dearest place in the world."
"Are there such stepmothers? I shouldn't
have judged so from my own experience."
"I think I love her as much as if she were
my own mother."
"You are lucky," said Carl, sighing.
"Tell me about yours."
"She was married to my father five years
ago. Up to the time of her marriage I thought
her amiable and sweet-tempered. But soon
after the wedding she threw off the mask, and
made it clear that she disliked me. One reason
is that she has a son of her own about
my age, a mean, sneaking fellow, who is the
apple of her eye. She has been jealous of me,
and tried to supplant me in the affection of
my father, wishing Peter to be the favored son."
"How has she succeeded?"
"I don't think my father feels any love for
Peter, but through my stepmother's influence
he generally fares better than I do."
"Why wasn't he sent to school with you?"
"Because he is lazy and doesn't like study.
Besides, his mother prefers to have him at
home. During my absence she worked upon
my father, by telling all sorts of malicious
stories about me, till he became estranged from
me, and little by little Peter has usurped my
place as the favorite."
"Why didn't you deny the stories?" asked Gilbert.
"I did, but no credit was given to my
denials. My stepmother was continually poisoning
my father's mind against me."
"Did you give her cause? Did you behave
disrespectfully to her?"
"No," answered Carl, warmly.
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