The Last Chronicle of Barset

f before the magistrates at Silverbridge on the Thursday. She had been made to understand that the magistrates were sinning against the st

e, who had been recommended to her by Mr. Walker. But when she came to the performance of these two tasks on the Monday morning, she found that she was unable to accomplish either of them. Mr. Crawley first declared that he would have nothing to do with any attorney. As to that he seemed to have made up his mind beforehand, and she saw at once that she had no hope of shaking him. But when she fo

o this she replied, unfortunately, that there would be no need of thinking of that at once. "And I am to get further into debt!" he said. "I am to put myself right before the world by incurring debts which I know I can never pay? When it has been a question of food for the children I have been weak, but I will not be weak in such a matter as this. I will have no lawyer." She did not regard this denial on his part as very material, though she would fain have followed Mr. Walker's advice had she been able; but when, later in the day, he declared that the police should fetch him, then her spirit gave way. Early in the morning he had seemed to assent to the expediency of going into Silverbridge on the Thursday, and it was not till after he had worked himself into a rage about the proposed attorney, that he utterly refused to make the journey. During the whole day, however, his state was such as almost to break his wife's heart. He would do nothin

ccustomed to tremble at his ways, or to show that she feared him in his paroxysms, but that his voice had been louder t

keep my word to Mr. Walker. I pr

on Thursday, of my own accord. On Thursday I shall be here; and

, Jo

s falling, and abroad he would encounter all the severity of the pitiless winter. Still it might have been better that he should have gone. The exercise and the fresh air, even the wet and the mud, would have served to bring back his mind to reason. But his wife thought of the misery of the

ll be done," she

t they must seek me h

le who respect you,-for their sakes let it not

prison? Did he think of w

would encourage you to

e of the passage; and his wife, when she followed him there after a few minutes, found him on his knees, with his forehead against the floor, and with his hands clutching at the scanty hairs of his head. Often before had she seen hi

than before. Then she kneeling there, aloud, but with low voice, with her thin hands clasped, uttered a prayer in which she asked her God to remove from her husband the bitterness of that hour. He listened till she had finished, and then he rose slowly to his feet. "It is in vain," said he. "It is all in vain. It is a

him further to change his mind; but hoping that he might express his purpose of doing so when he heard that the letter was to be sent; but he took no no

, "don't scold me now. I am so

book. "My God, what have I done against thee, that

ploy a lawyer, and he says that he should prefer that he should be sent for, if the law requires his presence at Silverbridge on Thursday." All this she wrote, as though she felt that she ought to employ a high tone i

uperintendent of police for the Silverbridge district. The other man was a policeman, pure and simple, with the helmet-looking hat which has lately become common, and all the ordinary half-military and wholly disagreeable outward adjuncts of the profession. "Wilkins," said the super

he arm-chair, leaning over the fire. "I suppose we had better go with you," said Mrs. Crawley d

if he'll be so kind," said Thompson.

frightened voice. "I may accompany my husband

his prisoner and his prisoner's wife. He had been specially asked by Mr. Walker to be very civil. Only one could sit on the box with the driver, and if the request was conceded the poor po

e will not!" sa

ord for nothing,"

and and then towards the wife, and shrugged his shoulders, and compressing his lips, blew out his breath, as though i

will not stir. You may indeed. He thinks it incumbent on him not to give

said Thompson, brindling up. "

made to go, I will wal

"I know you have been most kind. I meant the harshness of the cir

r him, and for

own innocence, and therefore he is

ain. But he'd better come in the carriag

nd I will go with him. There w

self that Mrs. Crawley, in spite of her poverty, was a lady. He conceived even unconsciously the idea that something was due to her b

d Mrs. Crawley. "And I th

, then," sa

ound his shoulders the old cloak which was hanging in the passage, and then he passed out, and was the first to seat himself in the Silverbridge fly. His wife followed him, and did not hear the blandishments with which

e meeting of the West Barsetshire freemasons was held. That part of the country was, no doubt, very much ashamed of its backwardness in this respect, but as yet nothing had been done to remedy the evil. Thompson and his fly were therefore driven into the yard of the Inn, and Mr. and Mrs. Crawley were ushered

ith him?" said

to him," said Thompson. "You can slip into it and say nothing

Nor had she said much to him, but had sat with him holding his han

rbridge,

s chamber? And w

the magistrates are ready.

is is t

r, it is

n who were curious to see the clergyman who had stolen twenty pounds, and to hear what would be the result of the case before the magistrates. He must be committed; so, at least

om when the magistrates a

ation of a clergyman," said he;-"

grade but guilt

cares of the world press so heavily upon him that he cannot rouse hi

r custom always

s silent for a while, while she was chafing his cold hands. "Would that

, that we should all b

d. "The load is too heavy for me to

ith her veil down came next; and the wretched man followed his wife, with his eyes fixed upon the ground and his hands clasped together upon his breast. He could at first have seen nothing, and could hardly have known where he was when they placed him in a chair. She, with a better courage, contrived to look round through her veil, and saw that there was a long board or table covered with green cloth, and that si

d borne his signature, and he had consequently expressed his intention of not sitting at the board; but Mr. Walker, desirous of having him there, had overruled him, showing him that the lo

d, but you may help us at

ut it had been long since Dr. Tempest had cared what was said about him in Silverbridge. He had become so accustomed to the life he led as to like to be disliked, and to be enamoured of unpopularity. So when Mr. Walker had ventured to suggest to him that, perhaps, he might not choose to be there, he had laughed Mr. Walker to scorn. "Of course I shall be there," he said. "I am interested in the case,-very much interested. Of course I shall be there." And had not Lord Lufton been present he would have made himself more conspicuous by taking the chair. Mr. Fothergill was the fourth. Mr. Fothergill was man of business to the Duke of Omnium, who was the great owner of property in and about Silverbridg

ed that Dr. Thorne intended to stand for the county on the next vacancy, and that did not tend to make things smoother. On the right hand of Lord Lufton sat Lord George and Mr. Fothergill, and beyond Mr. Fothergill sat Mr. Walker, and beyond Mr. Walker sat Mr. Walker's clerk. On the left hand of the chairman were Dr. Tempest and Dr. Thorne, and a little lower down was Mr. Zachary Winthrop, wh

acy. He, however, took notice of no one, and when one friend, who had really known him well, came

barts, the clergyman of Framley, as he gave his hand

must excuse him if at this moment he is not quite

not do so, it may be just possible, Mrs. Crawley, that something may be said about bail. I don't understand much about it, and I daresay you do not either; but if there should

awley seemed to listen to all that was said, and then turned upon the speaker sharply: "I will have no one to assist me," he said so loudly that every one in the room heard the words. "I am innocent. Why should I want assistance? Nor have I money to pay for it." Mr. Mason made a quick movement forward, intending to explain that that consideration need off

d I sent him; I got the money. Has any one denied it, that you should strive to drive a poor man like that beyond his wits?" Then Mr. Soames and the manager of the bank showed what inquiry had been made as soon as the cheque came back from the London bank; how at first they had both thought that Mr. Crawley could of course explain the matter, and how he had explained it by a statement which was manifestly untrue. Then there was evid

ed that Mr. Crawley had stated that the cheque had been given to him by Dean Arabin, as soon as it was shown that it could not have been given to him by Mr. Soames. In reference to this, Mr. Walker was obliged to explain that application had been made to the dean, who was abroad, and that the dean

the moment of missing it he remembered that he had taken the book out from his pocket in Mr. Crawley's room, and, at that moment, he had not doubted but that he had left it in Mr. Crawley's house. He had written and sent to Mr. Crawley to inquire, b

. Could Mr. Crawley at all remember by what means that bit of paper had come into his possession, or how long he had had it? He answered the last question first. "It had been with him for months." And why had he kept it? He looked round the room sternly

had come from the dean? He had thought so. The dean had given him money, covered up, in an enclosure, "so that the touch of the coin might not add to my disgrace in taking his alms," said the wretched man, thus speaking openly and

ich Mr. Walker submitted that the magistrates had no alternative but to c

"that he has told the truth, and that he does not k

e he does not,"

he gentleman's innocence. The cheque had been traced to the gentleman's hands, and the gentleman was bound to show how it had come into his possession. Even supposing that the gentleman had found the cheque in his house, which was likely

might have a lot of paper money by me,

you got it, my lord, when inquir

ucted by him in any of the duties of a magistrate, turned his back at once upon the duke's agent

agistrates. This was at last communicated to her,-and to him,-in a whisper by Mr. Walker. Mr. Crawley must understand that he was committed to take his trial at Barchester, at the next assizes, which would be held in April, but that bail would be taken;-his own bail in five hundred pounds, and that of two others in two hundred and f

d the major's name she did not remember it. Then they were led out back into the bed-room, where Mrs. Walker was found, anxious to do something, if she only knew what, to comfort the wretched husband and the wretched wife. But what c

and as they went some few words were spoken by Mrs. Crawley. "Josiah," she said, "the

she said no more, but resolved that her eye should never be off him, no,-not for a moment. Then, wh