"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. 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 carried a 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's faults, but I
certainly will not allow his clothes to be
withheld from him."
"Oh, well! spoil him if you choose!" said the lady,
sullenly. "Take his part against your wife!"
"I have never done that, but I will not allow
him to be defrauded of his clothes."
"I have no more to say," said Mrs. Crawford,
her eyes snapping. She was clearly 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 to Carl."
"Do you mean to accuse me of stealing,
madam?" demanded Gilbert, indignantly.
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