"You will receive a certain advantage from it. Your home is in this house, and the dinner you are eating is provided with your father's money." "Yet you want me to pay you half the money I am to receive for work!" "Yes; but if you are guided by my wishes, I shall lay it aside for you, to be given to you hereafter." "I am not prepared to say that I shall be guided by your wishes." "Do you positively refuse to tell me how much money you have in the savings bank?" "I do." "I require you to give me your bank-book. It is proper that I should keep it." Gerald expected this. "Mrs. Lane, ever since I had any money in the bank, the book has been in my possession. My father desired me to keep it." "Your father was foolishly indulgent." "I don't think you are likely to be. Perhaps you will tell me what you want of the book?" "I want to prevent your withdrawing any more money." "So I supposed, and that is the reason why I decline to give you the book." "Very well; we will drop the subject for the present. I trust that with time for reflection you will take a different view of your duty." Gerald was surprised at his stepmother's change of front. "She wants to put me off my guard," he decided. "She will search my room for the book." As there was but a dollar to his credit now, this didn't disturb him particularly, nor did it prevent his going to his chamber and putting the book into his trunk. "I should like to be here when she finds it," he said to himself. Gerald had promised to go out on the pond in his boat, and John had agreed to go with him. He stopped at his friend's house on the way, and John joined him. Meanwhile Mrs. Lane waited till Gerald was safely distant, and then with a look of expectation, ascended the staircase to his room. She had noticed that her stepson went up-stairs, and thought it probable that he had put the book away. Gerald's trunk was in one corner of the room. It was locked, but this did not interpose any obstacle. Mrs. Lane kneeled down in front of it and took from her pocket a bunch of keys. She did not immediately find one that fitted the lock, but presently the right key turned up. "Ha!" she said, triumphantly, as the key turned in the lock and the lid was raised. "Now, Master Gerald, we will see how much money you have to your credit." The bank-book was just below the tray, and no time was wasted in finding it. She opened the book eagerly, and scanned the entries. But her first elation was succeeded by a look of anger and disappointment. Fifty dollars was entered to Gerald's credit, but his drafts amounted to forty-nine. There was only one dollar left. "Two drafts this morning!" said Mrs. Lane, angrily. "What has he done with the money?" She searched the trunk carefully, hoping to find somewhere a roll of bills, but as we know, she was doomed to disappointment. "He is sly," she muttered; "but I will trap him yet."