“Really, this is very annoying,” said Dr. Crawford, irritably. “Have you come here from Warren to say this?”
“No, sir, not entirely.”
“Perhaps Carl wants me to receive him back. I will do so if he promises to obey his stepmother.”
“That he won’t do, I am sure.”
“Then what is the object of your visit?”
“To say that Carl wants and intends to earn his own living. But it is hard for a boy of his age, who has never worked, to earn enough at first to pay for his board and clothes. He asks, or, rather, I ask for him, that you will allow him a small sum, say three or four dollars a week, which is considerably less than he must cost you at home, for a time until he gets on his feet.”
“I don’t know,” said Dr. Crawford, in a vacillating tone. “I don’t think Mrs. Crawford would approve this.”
“It seems to me you are the one to decide, as Carl is your own son. Peter must cost you a good deal more.”
“Do you know Peter?”
“I have met him,” answered Gilbert, with a slight smile.