Itmightbebetterforhimnow，ifonlyhecouldbringhimselftosomesoftnessofheart。Softlysheclosedthedoor，andplacingthecandleonthemantle—shelf，softlyshekneltbesidehim，andsoftlytouchedhishandwithhers。Hedidnotstirnorutterasingleword，butseemedtoclutchathisthinlocksmoreviolentlythanbefore。Thenshekneelingthere，aloud，butwithalowvoice，withherthinhandsclasped，utteredaprayerinwhichsheaskedherGodtoremovefromherhusbandthebitternessofthathour。Helistenedtillshehadfinished，andthenroseslowlytohisfeet。’Itisinvain，’saidhe，’itisallinvain。
Itisallinvain。’Thenhereturnedbacktotheparlour，andseatinghimselfagaininthearm—chair，remainedtherewithoutspeakingtillpastmidnight。Atlast，whenshetoldhimthatsheherselfwasverycold，andremindedhimthatforthelasthourtherehadbeennofire，stillspeechless，hewentupwithhertotheirbed。
Earlyonthefollowingmorningshecontrivedtolethimknowthatshewasabouttosendaneighbour’ssonoverwithanotetoMrWalker，fearingtourgehimfurthertochangehismind；buthopingthathemightexpresshispurposeofdoingsowhenheheardthattheletterwastobesent；buthetooknonoticewhateverofherwords。AtthismomenthewasreadingGreekwithhisdaughter，orratherrebukingherbecauseshecouldnotbeinducedtoreadherGreek。
’Oh，papa，’thepoorgirlsaid，’don’tscoldmenow。Iamsounhappybecauseofallofthis。’
’AndamInotunhappy？’hesaid，asheclosedthebook。’MyGod，whathaveIdoneagainstthee，thatmylinesshouldbecastinsuchterribleplaces？’
TheletterwassenttoMrWalker。’Heknowshimselftobeinnocent，’
saidthepoorwife，writingwhatbestexcuseshehowtomake，’andthinksthatheshouldtakenostephimselfinsuchamatter。Hewillnotemployalawyer，andhesaysthatheshouldpreferthathebesentfor，ifthelawrequireshispresenceatSilverbridgeonThursday。’Allthisshewrote，asthoughshefeltthatsheoughttoemployahightoneindefendingherhusband’spurpose；butshebrokedownaltogetherinafewwordsofthepostscript。’Indeed，indeedIhavedonewhatIcould！’MrWalkerunderstooditall，boththehightoneandthesubsequentfall。
OntheThursdaymorning，ataboutteno’clock，aflystoppedatthegateatHogglestockParsonage，andoutofitcametwomen。Onewasdressedinordinaryblackclothes，andseemedfromhisbearingtobearespectablemanofthemiddleclassoflife。Hewas，however，thesuperintendentofpolicefortheSilverbridgedistrict。Theothermanwasapoliceman，pureandsimple，withthehelmet—lookinghatwhichhaslatelybecomecommon，andalltheordinaryhalf—militaryandwhollydisagreeableoutwardadjunctsoftheprofession。’Wilkins，’saidthesuperintendent，’likelyenoughIshallwantyou，fortheytellmethegentisuncommonstrange。ButifIdon’tcallyouwhenIcomeout，justopenthedoorlikeaservantandmountupontheboxwhenwe’rein。Anddon’tspeaknorsaynothing。’thentheseniorpolicemanenteredthehouse。
HefoundMrsCrawleysittingintheparlourwithherbonnetandshawlon，andMrCrawleyinthearm—chair，leaningoverthefire。’Isupposewehadbettergowithyou，’saidMrsCrawleydirectlythedoorwasopened；forofcourseshehadseenthearrivaloftheflyfromthewindow。
’Thegentlemanhadbettercomewithusifhe’llbesokind，’saidThompson。’I’vebroughtacarriageforhim。’
’ButImaygowithhim？’saidthewife，withfrightenedvoice。’Imayaccompanymyhusband。Heisnotwell，sir，andwantsassistance。’
Thompsonthoughtaboutitforamomentbeforehespoke。Therewasroomintheflyforonlytwo，orifforthree，stillheknewhisplacebetterthantothrusthimselfinsidetogetherwithhisprisonerandhisprisoner’swife。HehadbeenspeciallyaskedbyMrWalkertobeverycivil。Onlyonecouldsitontheboxwiththedriver，andiftherequestwasconcededthepoorpolicemanmustwalkback。Thewalk，howeverwouldnotkillthepoliceman。’Allright，ma’am，’saidThompson；——’thatis，ifthegentlemanwilljustpasshiswordnottogetouttillIaskhim。’
’Hewillnot！Hewillnot！’saidMrsCrawley。
’Iwillpassmywordfornothing，’saidMrCrawley。
Uponhearingthis，Thompsonassumedaverylongface，andshookhisheadasheturnedhiseyesfirsttowardsthehusbandandthentowardsthewife，andshruggedhisshoulders，andcompressinghislips，blewouthisbreath，asthoughinthiswayhemightblowoffsomeofthemingledsorrowandindignationwithwhichthegentleman’swordsafflictedhim。
MrsCrawleyroseandcameclosetohim。’Youmaytakemywordforithewillnotstir。Youmayindeed。Hethinksitincumbentonhimnottogiveanyundertakinghimself，becausehefeelshimselfsoharshlyused。’
’Idon’tknowaboutharshness，’saidThompson，brindlingup。’Aclosecarriagebroughtand——’
’Iwillwalk。IfIamtogo，Iwillwalk，’shoutedMrCrawley。
’Ididnotalludetoyou——ortoMrWalker，’saidthepoorwife。’Iknowyouhavebeenmostkind。Imeanttheharshnessofthecircumstances。Ofcourseheisinnocent，andyoumustfeelforhim。’
’Yes，Ifeelforhim，andforyoutoo，ma’am。’
’ThatisallImeant。Heknowshisowninnocence，andthereforeheisunwillingtogivewayinanything。’
’Ofcourseheknowshisself，that’scertain。Buthe’dbettercomeinthecarriage，ifonlybecauseofthedirtandslush。’
’Hewillgointhecarriage；andIwillgowithhim。Therewillberoomforyouthere，sir。’
Thompsonlookedupattherain，andtoldhimselfthatitwasverycold。
ThenherememberedMrWalker’sinjunction，andbethoughthimselfthatMrsCrawley，inspiteofherpoverty，wasalady。Heconceivedevenunconsciouslytheideathatsomethingwasduetoherbecauseofherpoverty。’I’llgowiththedriver，’saidhe，’buthe’llonlygivehisselfadealoftroubleifhetriestogetout。’
’Hewon’t；hewon’t，’saidMrsCrawley。’AndIthankyouwithallmyheart。’
’Comealong，then，’saidThompson。
Shewentuptoherhusband，hatinhand，andlookingroundtoseethatshewasnotwatchedputthehatonhishead，andthenliftedhimasitwerefromthechair。Hedidnotrefusetobeled，andallowedhertothrowroundhisshoulderstheoldcloakwhichwashanginginthepassage，andthenhepassedout，andwasthefirsttoseathimselfintheSilverbridgefly。Hiswifefollowedhim，anddidnotheartheblandishmentswithwhichThompsoninstructedhismyrmidontofollowthroughthemudonfoot。Slowlytheymadetheirwaythroughthelanes，anditwasnearlytwelvewhentheflywasdriventhroughtheyardofthe\"GeorgeandVulture\"atSilverbridge。
Silverbridge，thoughitwasblessedwithamayorandcorporation，andwasblessedalsowithaMemberofParliamentalltoitself，wasnotblessedwithacourthouse。Themagistrateswerethereforecompelledtositinthebigroomatthe\"GeorgeandVulture\"inwhichthecountyballswerecelebrated，andthemeetingoftheWestBarsetshirefreemasonswasheld。Thatpartofthecountrywas，nodoubt，verymuchashamedofitsbackwardnessinthisrespect，butasyetnothinghadbeendonetoremedytheevil。Thompsonandhisflywerethereforedrivenintotheyardoftheinn，andMrandMrsCrawleywereusheredbyhimupintoalittlebed—chambercloseadjoiningtothebigroominwhichthemagistrateswerealreadyassembled。’There’sabitofafirehere，’saidThompson，’andyoucanmakeyourselvesalittlewarm。’Hehimselfwasshiveringwiththecold。’Whenthegentsisreadyinthere，I’lljustcomeandfetchyou。’
’Imaygoinwithhim？’saidMrsCrawley。
’I’llhaveachairforyouattheendofthetable，justnightohim，’
saidThompson。’Youcanslipintoitandsaynothingtonobody。’Thenheleftthemandwentawaytothemagistrates。
MrCrawleyhadnotspokenawordsincehehadenteredthevehicle。Norhadshesaidmuchtohim，buthadsatwithhimholdinghishandinhers。
Nowhespoketoher——’Whereisitthatweare？’heasked。
’AtSilverbridge，dearest。’
’Butwhatisthischamber？Andwhyarewehere？’
’Wearetowaitheretillthemagistratesareready。Theyareinthenextroom。’
’ButthisistheInn？’
’Yesdear，itistheInn。’
’AndIseecrowdsofpeopleabout。’Therewerecrowdsofpeopleabout。
Therehadbeenmenintheyard，andothersstandingaboutonthestairs，andthepublicroomwasfullofmenwhowerecurioustoseetheclergymanwhohadstolentwentypounds，andtohearwhatwouldbetheresultofthecasebeforethemagistrates。Hemustbecommitted；so，atleastsaideverybody；butthentherewouldbethequestionofbail。
Wouldthemagistrateslethimoutonbail，andwhowouldbethebailsmen？’Whyarethepeoplehere？’saidMrCrawley。
’Isupposeitisacustomwhenthemagistratesaresitting，’saidhiswife。
’Theyhavecometoseethedegradationofaclergyman，’saidhe；——’andtheywillnotbedisappointed。’
’Nothingcandegradebutguilt，’saidhiswife。
’Yes——misfortunecandegrade，andpoverty。Amanisdegradedwhenthecaresoftheworldpresssoheavilyuponhimthathecannotrousehimself。TheyhavecometolookatmeasthoughIwereahuntedbeast。’
’Itisbuttheircustomalwaysonsuchdays。’
’Theyhavenotalwayshadaclergymanbeforethemasacriminal。’Thenhewassilentforawhile，whileshewaschafinghiscoldhands。’WouldthatIweredead，beforetheybroughtmetothis！WouldthatIweredead！’
’Isitnotright，dear，thatweshouldbearallthatHesendsus？’
’WouldthatIweredead！’herepeated。’Theloadistooheavyformetobear，andIwouldthatIweredead。’
ThetimeseemedverylongbeforeThompsonreturnedandaskedthemtoaccompanyhimintothebigroom。Whenhedidso，MrCrawleygraspedholdofchairasthoughhehadresolvedthathewouldnotgo。
Buthiswifewhisperedawordtohim，andheobeyedher。’Hewillfollowme，’shesaidtothepoliceman。Andinthatwaytheywentfromthesmallerroomintothelargeone。Thompsonwentfirst；MrsCrawleywithherveildowncamenext；andthewretchedmanfollowedhiswife，withhiseyesfixeduponthegroundandhishandsclaspedtogetheruponhisbreast。Hecouldatfirsthaveseennothing，andcouldhardlyhaveknownwherehewaswhentheyplacedhiminachair。She，withbettercourage，contrivedtolookroundthroughherveil，andsawthattherewasalongboardortablecoveredwithgreencloth，andthatsixorsevengentlemenweresittingatoneendofit，whilethereseemedtobeacrowdstandingalongthesidesandabouttheroom。Herhusbandwasseatedattheotherendofthetable，nearthecorner，androundthecorner——sothatshemightbeclosetohim——herchairhadbeenplaced。Ontheothersideofhimtherewasanotherchair，nowempty，intendedforanyprofessionalgentlemanwhomhemightchoosetoemploy。
Therewerefivemagistratessittingthere。LordLufton，fromFramley，wasinthechair；——ahandsomeman，stillyoung，whowasverypopularinthecounty。Thechequewhichhadbeencashedhadbornehissignature，andhehadconsequentlyexpressedhisintentionofnotsittingontheboard；butMrWalker，desirousofhavinghimthere，hadoverruledhim，showingthatthelosswasnothisloss。Thecheque，ifstolen，hadnotbeenstolenfromhim。Hewasnottheprosecutor。’No，byJove，’saidLordLufton，’ifIcouldquashthewholething，Iwoulddosoatonce！’
’Youcan’tdothat，mylord，butyoumayhelpusattheboard，’saidMrWalker。
ThentherewastheHonGeorgeDeCourcy，LordDeCourcy’sbrother，fromCastleCourcy。LordDeCourcydidnotliveinthecounty，buthisbrotherdidso，andendeavouredtomaintainthegloryofthefamilybythediscretionofhisconduct。Hewasnot，perhaps，amongthewisestofmen，buthedidverywellasacountymagistrate，holdinghistongue，keepinghiseyesopen，and，onsuchoccasionsasthis，obeyingMrWalkerinallthings。DrTempestwasalsothere，therectoroftheparish，hebeingbothmagistrateandclergyman。ThereweremanyinSilverbridgewhodeclaredthatDrTempestwouldhavedonefarbettertostayawaywhenabrotherclergymanwasthustobebroughtbeforethebench；butithadbeenlongsinceDrTempesthadcaredwhatwassaidabouthiminSilverbridge。Hehadbecomeaccustomedtothelifeheledastoliketobedisliked，andtobeenamouredofunpopularity。SowhenMrWalkerhadventuredtosuggesttohimthat，perhaps，hemightnotchoosetobethere，hehadlaughedMrWalkertoscorn。’OfcourseIshallbethere，’
hesaid。’Iaminterestedinthecase——verymuchinterested。OfcourseI
shallbethere。’AndhadnotLordLuftonbeenpresenthewouldhavemadehimselfmoreconspicuousbytakingthechair。MrFothergillwasthefourth。MrFothergillwasmanofbusinesstotheDukeofOmnium，whowasthegreatownerofpropertyinandaroundSilverbridge，andhewasthemostactivemagistrateinthatpartofthecounty。Hewasasharpman，andnotatalllikelytohaveanypredispositioninfavourofaclergyman。ThefifthwasDrThorneofChaldicotes，agentlemanwhosenamehasbeenalreadymentionedinthesepages。Hehadbeenformanyyearsamedicalmanpractisinginalittlevillageinthefurtherendofthecounty；butithadcometobehisfate，lateinlife，tomarryagreatheiress，withwhosemoneytheancienthouseanddomainofChaldicoteshadbeenpurchasedfromtheSowerbys。SincethenDrThornehaddonehisdutywellasacountrygentleman——not，however，withoutsomelittlewantofsmoothnessbetweenhimandtheduke’speople。
Chaldicoteslaynexttotheduke’sterritory，andthedukehadwishedtobuyChaldicotes。WhenChaldicotesslippedthroughtheduke’sfingersandwentintothehandsofDrThorne——orofDrThorne’swife——thedukehadbeenveryangrywithMrFothergill。Henceithadcometopassthattherehadnotalwaysbeensmoothnessbetweentheduke’speopleandtheChaldicotespeople。ItwasnowrumouredthatDrThorneintendedtostandforthecountyonthenextvacancy，andthatdidnottendtomakethingssmoother。OntherighthandofLordLuftonsatLordGeorgeandMrFothergill，andbeyondMrFothergillsatMrWalker，andbeyondMrWalkersatMrWalker’sclerk。OnthelefthandofthechairmanwereDrTempestandDrThorne，andalittlelowerdownwasMrZacharyWinthrop，whoheldthesituationofclerktothemagistrates。ManypeopleinSilverbridgesaidthatthiswasallwrong，asMrWinthropwaspartnerwithMrWalker，whowasalwaysemployedbeforethemagistratesiftherewasanyemploymentgoingforanattorney。Forthis，however，MrWalkercaredverylittle。HehadsomuchofhisownwayinSilverbridge，thathewassupposedtocarenothingforanybody。
Thereweremanyothergentlemenintheroom，andsomewhoknewMrCrawleywithmoreorlessintimacy。He，however，tooknoticeofnoone，andwhenonefriend，whohadreallyknownhimwell，cameupbehindandspoketohimgentlyleaningoverhischairthepoormanbarelyrecognisedhisfriend。
’I’msureyourhusbandwon’tforgetme，’saidMrRobarts，theclergymanatFramley，ashegavehishandtothatladyacrossthebackofMrCrawley’schair。
’No，MrRobarts，hedoesnotforgetyou。Butyoumustexcusehimifatthismomentheisnotquitehimself。Itisatryingsituationforaclergyman。’
’Icanunderstandallthat；butI’lltellyouwhyIhavecome。I
supposethisinquirywillfinishthewholeaffair，andclearupwhatevermaybethedifficulty。Butshoulditnotbeso，itmaybejustpossible，MrsCrawley，thatsomethingmaybesaidaboutbail。Idon’tunderstandmuchaboutit，andIdaresayyoudonoteither；butifthereshouldbeanythingofthatsort，letMrCrawleynameme。Abrotherclergymanwillbebest，andI’llhavesomeothergentlemanwithme。’Thenheleftwithoutwaitingforananswer。
AtthesametimetherewasaconversationgoingonbetweenMrWalkerandanotherattorneystandingbehindhim，MrMason。’I’llgotohim，’saidWalker，’andtrytoarrangeit。’SoMrWalkerseatedhimselfintheemptychairbesideMrCrawley，andendeavouredtoexplaintothewretchedman，thathewoulddowelltoallowMrMasontoassisthim。MrCrawleyseemedtolistentoallthatwassaid，andthenturnedtothespeakersharply：’Iwillhavenoonetoassistme，’hesaidsoloudlythateveryoneintheroomheardthewords。’Iaminnocent。WhyshouldI
wantassistance？NorhaveIthemoneytopayforit。’MrMasonmadeaquickmovementforward，intendingtoexplainthatthatconsiderationneedoffernoimpediment，butwasstoppedbyfurtherspeechbyMrCrawley。’Iwillhavenoonetohelpme，’saidhe，standingupright，andforthefirsttimeremovinghishatfromhishead。’Goon，anddowhatitisyouhavetodo。’Afterthanhedidnotsitdowntilltheproceedingswerenearlyover，thoughhewasinvitedmorethanoncebyLordLuftontodoso。
Weneednotgothroughalltheevidencethatwasbroughttobearuponthequestion。ItwasprovedthatmoneyforthechequewaspaidtoMrCrawley’smessenger，andthatthismoneywasgiventoMrCrawley。WhenthereoccurredsomelittledelayinthechainofevidencenecessarytoshowthatMrCrawleyhadsignedandsentthechequeandgotthemoney，hebecameimpatient。’Whydoyoutroubletheman？’hesaid。’Ihadthecheque，andIsenthim；Igotthemoney。Hasanyonedeniedit，thatyouwouldstrivetodriveapoormanlikethatbeyondhiswits？’ThenMrSoamesandthemanagerofthebankshowedwhatinquiryhadbeenmadeassoonasthechequecamebackfromtheLondonbank；howatfirsttheyhadboththoughtthatMrCrawleycouldofcourseexplainthematterandhowheexplaineditbyastatementwhichwasmanifestlyuntrue。ThentherewasevidencetoprovethatthechequecouldnothavebeenpaidtohimbyMrSoames，andasthiswasgiven，MrCrawleyshookhisheadandagainbecameimpatient。’Ierredinthat，’heexclaimed。’OfcourseIerred。
InmyhasteIthoughtitwasso，andinmyhasteIsaidso。Iamnotgoodatreckoningmoneyandrememberingsums；butIsaythatIhadbeenwrongwhenmyerrorwasshowntome，andIacknowledgedatoncethatI
hadbeenwrong。’
Uptothispointhehadbehavednotonlywithsomuchspirit，butwithsomuchreason，thathiswifebegantohopethattheimportanceoftheoccasionhadbroughtbacktheclearnessofhismind，andthathewould，evennow，beabletoplacehimselfrightastheinquirywenton。ThenitwasexplainedthatMrCrawleyhadstatedthatthechequehadbeengiventohimbyDeanArabin，assoonasitwasshownthatitcouldnothavebeengiventohimbyMrSoames。Inreferencetothis，MrWalkerwasobligedtoexplainthatapplicationhadbeenmadetothedean，whowasabroad，andthatthedeanhadstatedthathehadgivenfiftypoundstohisfriend。MrWalkerexplainedalsothattheverynotesofwhichthisfiftypoundshadconsistedhadbeentracedbacktoMrCrawley，andthattheyhadnoconnexionwiththechequeorwiththemoneywhichhadbeengivenforthechequeatthebank。
MrSoamesstatedthathehadlostthechequewithapocket—book；thathehadcertainlylostitonthedayonwhichhehadcalledonMrCrawleyatHogglestock；andthathemissedhispocket—bookonhisjourneybackfromHogglestocktoBarchester。AtthemomentofmissingitherememberedthathehadtakenthebookoutfromhispocketinMrCrawley’sroom，and，atthatmoment，hehadnotdoubtedthathehadleftitinMrCrawley’shouse。HehadwrittenandsenttoMrCrawleytoinquire，buthadbeenassuredthatnothinghadbeenfound。Therehadbeennootherpropertyofvalueinthepocket—book——nothingbutafewvisiting—cardsandamemorandum，andhehadthereforestoppedthechequeattheLondonbank，andthoughtnomoreaboutit。
MrCrawleywasthenaskedtoexplaininwhatwayhecamepossessedofthecheque。ThequestionwasfirstputbyLordLufton；butitsoonfellintoMrWalker’shands，whocertainlyaskeditwithallthekindnesswithwhichsuchaninquirycouldbemade。CouldMrCrawleyatallrememberbywhatmeansthatbitofpaperhadcomeintohispossession，orhowlonghehadhadit？Heansweredthelastquestionfirst。’Ithadbeenwithmeformonths。’Andwhyhadhekeptit。Helookedroundtheroomsternly，almostsavagely，heanswered，fixinghiseyesforamomentuponalmosteveryfacearoundhimashedidso。Thenhespoke。’Iwasdrivenbyshametokeepit——andthenbyshametouseit。’Thathisstatementwastrue，nooneintheroomdoubtedit。
Andthentheotherquestionwaspresseduponhim；andhelifteduphishands，andraisedhisvoice，andsworebytheSaviourinwhomhetrusted，andheknewnotfromwhencethemoneyhadcometohim。Whythenhadhesaidthatithadcomefromthedean？Hehadthoughtso。Thedeanhadgivenhimmoney，coveredup，inanenclosure，’sothatthetouchofthecoinmightnotaddtomydisgraceintakingalms，’saidthewretchedman，thusspeakingopenlyandfreelyinhisagonyoftheshamewhichhehadstrivensopersistentlytohide。Hehadnotseenthedean’smoniesastheyhadbeengiven，andhehadthoughtthatthechequehadbeenwiththem。Beyondthathecouldtellthemnothing。
ThentherewasaconferencebetweenthemagistratesandMrWalker，inwhichMrWalkersubmittedthatthemagistrateshadnoalternativebuttocommitthegentleman。TothisLordLuftondemurred，andwithhimDrThorne。
’Ibelieve，asIamsittinghere，’saidLordLufton，’thathehastoldthetruth，andthathedoesnotknowanymorethanIdofromwhencethechequecame。’
’Iamquitesurehedoesnot，’saidDrThorne。
LordGeorgeremarkedthatitwasthe’queerestthinghehadevercomeacross。’DrTempestmerelyshookhishead。MrFothergillpointedoutthatevensupposingthegentleman’sstatementtobetrue，itbynomeanswenttowardsestablishingthegentleman’sinnocence。Thechequehadbeentracedtothegentleman’shands，andthegentlemanwasboundtoshowhowithadcomeintohispossession。Evensupposingthatthegentlemanhadfoundthechequeinhishouse，whichwaslikelyenough，hewasnottherebyjustifiedinchangingit；andapplyingtheproceedstohisownpurposes。MrWalkertoldthemthatMrFothergillwasright，andthattheonlyexcusetobemadeforMrCrawleywasthathewasoutofhissenses。
’Idon’tseeit，’saidLordLufton。’Imighthavealotofpapermoneyonme，andnotknowfromAdamwhereIgotit。’
’Butyouwouldhavetoshowwhereyougotit，mylord，wheninquirywasmade，’saidMrFothergill。
LordLufton，whowasnotparticularlyfondofMrFothergill，andwasveryunwillingtobeinstructedbyhiminanyofthedutiesofamagistrate，turnedhisbackatonceupontheduke’sagent；butwithinthreeminutesafterwardshehadsubmittedtothesameinstructionsfromMrWalker。
MrCrawleyhadagainseatedhimself，andduringthisperiodoftheaffairwasleaningoverthetablewithhisfaceburiedonhisarms。MrsCrawleysatbyhisside，utterlyimpotentastoanyassistance，justtouchinghimwithherhand，andwaitingbehindherveiltillsheshouldbemadetounderstandwhatwasthedecisionofthemagistrates。Thiswasatlastcommunicatedtoher——andtohim——inawhisperbyMrWalker。MrCrawleymustunderstandthathewascommittedtotakehistrialatBarchester，atthenextassizes，whichwouldbeheldinApril，butthatbailwouldbetaken；——inhisownbailinfivehundredpounds，andthatoftwoothersintwohundredandfiftypoundseach。AndMrWalkerexplainedfurtherthatheandthebailsmenwereready，andthatthebail—bondwasprepared。ThebailsmenweretobetheRevMrRobartsandMajorGrantly。InfiveminutesthebondwassignedandMrCrawleywasatlibertytogoawayafreeman——tilltheBarchesterAssizesshouldcomearoundinApril。
OfallthatwasgoingonatthistimeMrCrawleyknewlittleornothing，andMrsCrawleydidnotknowmuch。ShedidsayawordofthankstoMrRobarts，andbeggedthatthesamemightbesaidto——theothergentleman。
IfshehadheardtheMajor’snameshedidnotrememberit。Thentheywereledoutbackintothebedroom，whereMrsWalkerwasfound，anxioustodosomething，ifsheonlyknewwhat，tocomfortthewretchedhusbandandthewretchedwife。Butwhatcomfortorconsolationcouldtherebewithintheirreach？Therewasteamadeforthem，andsandwichescutfromtheInnlarder。AndtherewassherryintheInndecanter。Butnosuchcomfortasthatwaspossibleforeitherofthem。
Theyweretakenhomeagaininthefly，returningwithouttheescortofMrThompson，andastheywenthomesomefewwordswerespokenbyMrsCrawley。’Josiah，’shesaid，’therewillbeawayoutofthis，evenyet，ifyouwillonlyholdupyourheadandtrust。’
’Thereisawayoutofit，’hesaid。’Thereisaway。Thereisbutoneway。’Whenhehadspokenshesaidnomore，butresolvedthathereyeshouldneverbeoffhim，no——notforamoment。Then，whenshehadgottenhimoncemoreintothatfrontparlour，shethrewherarmsaroundhimandkissedhim。