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.