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.
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