Mrs. Crawford tossed her head.

"I don't know anything about you," she replied.

"Dr. Crawford, am I to open the trunk?" asked Gilbert.

"No," answered the doctor, with unwonted decision.

"I hate that boy! He has twice subjected me to mortification," thought
Mrs. Crawford.

"You know very well," she said, turning to her husband, "that I have
grounds for my request. I blush to mention it, but I have reason to
believe that your son took a wallet containing twenty-five dollars from
my bureau drawer."

"I deny it!" said Gilbert.

"What do you know about it, I should like to ask?" sneered Mrs.
Crawford.

"I know that Carl is an honorable boy, incapable of theft, and at this
moment has but thirty-seven cents in his possession."

"So far as you know."

"If the money has really disappeared, madam, you had better ask your own
boy about it."

"This is insufferable!" exclaimed Mrs. Crawford, her light eyes emitting