"I was
prepared to give her a warm welcome, and treat
her as a friend, but my advances were so coldly
received that my heart was chilled."
"Poor Carl! How long has this been so?"
"From the beginning--ever since Mrs. Crawford
came into the house."
"What are your relations with your step-
brother--what's his name?"
"Peter Cook. I despise the boy, for he is
mean, and tyrannical where he dares to be."
"I don't think it would be safe for him to
bully you, Carl."
"He tried it, and got a good thrashing. You
can imagine what followed. He ran, crying
to his mother, and his version of the story was
believed. I was confined to my room for a
week, and forced to live on bread and water."
"I shouldn't think your father was a man
to inflict such a punishment."
"It wasn't he--it was my stepmother. She
insisted upon it, and he yielded. I heard afterwards
from one of the servants that he wanted
me released at the end of twenty-four hours,
but she would not consent."
"How long ago was this?"
"It happened when I was twelve."
"Was it ever repeated?"
"Yes, a month later; but the punishment
lasted only for two days."
"And you submitted to it?"
"I had to, but as soon as I was released I
gave Peter such a flogging, with the promise
to repeat it, if I was ever punished in that
manner again, that the boy himself was panic-
stricken, and objected to my being imprisoned again."
"He must be a charming fellow!"
"You would think so if you should see him.
He has small, insignificant features, a turn-
up nose, and an ugly scowl that appears whenever
he is out of humor.
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