"At my house."

"Is he goin' to stay there?"

"For a short time. He wants to go out into the world and make his own
living."

"And no wonder--poor boy! It's hard times he had here."

"Didn't Mrs. Crawford treat him well?" asked Gilbert, with curiosity

"Is it trate him well? She was a-jawin' an' a-jawin' him from mornin'
till night. 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.