whenthetimeofhistrialshouldbecloseathand。
Fullofsuchthoughtsasthesehewentalongalmostgaily，norfeltthefatigueoftheroadtillhehadcoveredthefirstfivemilesoutofBarchester。Itwasnearlyfouro’clock，andthethickgloomofthewintereveningwasmakingitselffelt。Andthenhebegantobefatigued。
Hehadnotasyeteatensincehehadlefthishomeinthemorning，andhenowpulledacrustoutofhispocketandleanedagainstagateashecrunchedit。Therewerestilltenmilesbeforehim，andheknewthatsuchanadditiontotheworkhehadalreadydonewouldtaskhimveryseverely。FarmerManglehadtoldhimthathewouldnotleaveFramleyMillbythattime。ButhehadsaidthathewouldnotreturntoFramleyMill，andherememberedhissuspicionthathiswifeandthefarmerbetweenthemhadcozenedhim。No；hewouldpersevereandwalk——walkthoughheshoulddropupontheroad。Hewasnownearerfiftythenfortyyearsofage，andhardshipsaswellastimehadtolduponhim。Heknewthatthelastfourmilesinthedarkwouldbeverysadwithhim。Butstillhepersevered，endeavouring，ashewent，tocherishhimselfwiththeremembranceofhistriumph。
HepassedtheturninggoingdowntoFramleywithcourage，butwhenhecametothefurtherturning，bywhichthecartwouldreturnfromFramleytotheHogglestockroad，helookedwistfullydowntheroadforfarmerMangle。ButfarmerManglewasstillattheMill，waitinginexpectationthatMrCrawleymightcometohim。Butthepoortravellerpausedherebarelyforaminute，andthenwenton，stumblingthroughthemud，strikinghisill—coveredfeetagainsttheroughstonesinthedark，sweatinginhisweakness，almosttotteringattimes，andcalculatingwhetherhisremainingstrengthwouldservetocarryhimhome。Hehadalmostforgottenthebishopandhiswifebeforeatlasthegraspedthewicketgateleadingtohisowndoor。
’Oh，mamma，hereispapa！’
’Butwhereisthecart？Ididnothearthewheels，’saidMrsCrawley。
’Oh，mamma，Ithinkpapaisill。’Thenthewifetookherdroopinghusbandbybotharmsandstrovetolookhimintheface。’Hehaswalkedalltheway，andheisill，’saidJane。
’No，mydear，Iamverytired，butnotill。Letmesitdown，andgivemesomebreadandtea，andIshallrecovermyself。’ThenMrsCrawley，fromsomesecrethoard，gothimasmallmodicumofspirits，andgavehimmeatandtea，andhewasdocile；and，obeyingherbehests，allowedhimselftobetakentohisbed。
’Idonotthinkthebishopwillsendformeagain，’hesaid，asshetuckedtheclothesaroundhim。
CHAPTERXIX
WHEREDIDITCOMEFROM？
WhenChristmasmorningcamenoemissaryfromthebishopappearedatHogglestocktointerferewiththeordinaryperformanceoftheday’sservices。’Ithinkweneedfearnofurtherdisturbance，’MrCrawleysaidtohiswife——andtherewasnofurtherdisturbance。
OnthedayafterhiswalkfromFramleytoBarchester，andfromBarchesterbacktoHogglestock，MrCrawleyhadrisennotmuchtheworseforhislabour，andhadgraduallygiventohiswifeafullaccountofwhathadtakenplace。’Apoorweakman，’hesaid，speakingofthebishop。’Apoorweakcreature，andmuchtobepitied。’
’Ihavealwaysheardthatsheisaviolentwoman。’
’Veryviolent，andveryignorant；andmostintrusivewithal。’
’Andyoudidnotanswerheraword？’
’Atlastmyforbearancewithherbrokedown，andIbadehermindherdistaff。’
’What；——really？Didyousaythosewordstoher？’
’Nay；asfortheexactwordsIcannotrememberthem。IwasthinkingmoreofthewordwhichitmightbefittingthatIshouldanswerthebishop。ButIcertainlytoldherthatshehadbettermindherdistaff。’
’Andhowdidshebehavethen？’
’Ididnotwaittosee。Thebishophadspoken，andIhadreplied；andwhyshouldItarrytobeholdthewoman’sviolence？Ihadtoldhimthathewaswronginlaw，andthatIatleastwouldnotsubmittousurpedauthority。Therewasnothingtokeepmelonger，andsoIwentwithoutmuchceremonyofleave—taking。Therehadbeenlittleceremonyofgreetingontheirpart，andtherewaslessinthemakingofadieuxonmine。TheyhadtoldmethatIwasathief——’
’No，Josiah——surelynotso？Theydidnotusethatveryword？’
’Isaytheydid；——theydidusethatveryword。Butstop。Iamwrong。
Iwronghislordship，andIcravepardonforhavingdoneso。Ifmymemoryserveme，noexpressionsoharshescapedfromthebishop’smouth。
Hegaveme，indeed，tounderstandmorethanoncethattheactiontakenbythemagistrateswastantamounttoaconviction，andthatImustbeguiltybecausetheyhaddecidedthattherewasevidencesufficienttojustifyatrial。Butallthatarosefrommylord’signoranceoftheadministrationofthelawsofhiscountry。Hewasveryignorant——puzzle—pated，asyoumaycallit——ledbythenosebyhiswife，weakaswater，timidandvacillating。Buthedidnotwish，Ithink，tobeinsolent。ItwasMrsProudiewhotoldmetomyfacethatIwasa——thief。’
’Mayshebepunishedforthecruelword！’saidMrsCrawley。’Maytheremembrancethatshehasspokenitcome，someday，heavilyuponherheart。’
’\"Vengeanceismine。Iwillrepay，\"saiththeLord，’answeredMrCrawley。’Wemaysafelyleaveallthatalone，andridourmindsofsuchwishes，ifitbepossible。Itiswell，Ithink，thatviolentoffences，whencommitted，shouldbemetbyinstantrebuke。Toturntheothercheekinstantlytothesmitercanhardlybesuitableinthesedays，whenthehandsofsomanyareraisedtostrike。Butthereturnblowshouldbegivenonlywhilethesmartremains。Shehurtmethen；butwhatistomenow，thatshecalledmeathieftomyface？DoInotknowthat，allthecountryround，menandwomanarecallingmethesamebehindmyback？’
’No，Josiah，youdonotknowthat。Theysaythethingisverystrange——sostrangethatitrequiresatrial；butnoonethinksyouhavetakenthatwhichwasnotyourown。’
’IthinkIdid。ImyselfthinkItookthatwhichwasnotmyown。Mypoorheadsuffersso；——somanygrievousthoughtsdistractme，thatIamlikeachild，andknownotwhatIdo。’Ashespokethusheputbothhandsuptohishead，leaningforwardasthoughinanxiousthought——asthoughhewerestrivingtobringhismindtobearwithaccuracyonpastevents。’Itcouldnothavebeenmine，andyet——’Thenhesatsilent，andmadenoefforttocontinuehisspeech。
’Andyet？’——saidhiswife，encouraginghimtoproceed。Ifshecouldonlylearntherealtruth，shethoughtthatshemightperhapsyetsavehim，withassistancefromtheirfriends。
’WhenIsaidthatIhadgottenitfromthatmanImusthavebeenmad。’
’Fromwhichman，love？’
’FromthemanSoames——hewhoaccusesme。Andyet，astheLordhearsme，Ithoughtsothen。Thetruthis，thattherearetimeswhenIamnot——sane。Iamnotathief——notbeforeGod；butIam——madattimes。’
Theselastwordswerespokenveryslowly，inawhisper——withoutanyexcitement——indeedwithacomposurewhichwashorribletowitness。Andwhathesaidwasthemoreterriblebecauseshewassowellconvincedofthetruthofhiswords。Ofcoursehewasnothief。Shewantednoonetotellherthat。Ashehimselfhadexpressedit，hewasnothiefbeforeGod，howeverthemoneymighthavecomeintohispossession。Thatthereweretimeswhenhisreason，oncesofineandclear，couldnotact，couldnotbetrustedtoguidehimright，asshehadgraduallycometoknowwithfearandtrembling。Buthehimselfhadneverbeforehintedhisownconsciousnessofthiscalamity。Indeedhehadbeensounwillingtospeakofhimselfandhisownstate，thatshehadbeenunableeventoaskhimaquestionaboutthemoney——lestheshouldsuspectthatshesuspectedhim。
Nowhewasspeaking——butspeakingwithsuchheartrendingsadnessthatshecouldhardlyurgehimtogoon。
’Youhavesometimesbeenill，Josiah，asanyofusmaybe，’shesaid，’andthathasbeenthecause。’
’Therearedifferentkindsofsickness。Thereissicknessofthebody，andsicknessoftheheart，andsicknessofthespirit；——andthenthereissicknessofthemind，theworstofall。’
’Withyou，Josiah，ithaschieflybeenthefirst。’
’Withme，Mary，ithasbeenallofthem——everyone！Myspiritisbroken，mymindhasnotbeenabletokeepitseventenoramidsttheruins。ButIwillstrive。Iwillstrive。Iwillstrivestill。AndifGodhelpsme，Iwillprevail。’Thenhetookuphishatandcloak，andwentforthamongthelanes；andonthisoccasionhiswifewasgladthatheshouldgoalone。
ThisoccurredadayortwobeforeChristmas，andMrsCrawleyduringthosedayssaidnothingmoretoherhusbandonthesubjectwhichhehadsounexpectedlydiscussed。Sheaskedhimnoquestionsaboutthemoney，orastothepossibilityofhisexercisinghismemory，nordidshecounselhimtopleadthatthefalseexcusesgivenbyhimforthepossessionofthechequehadbeenoccasionedbythesadsliptowhichsorrowhadinthosedayssubjectedhismemoryandhisintellect。Butthematterhadalwaysbeenonhermind。Mightitnotbeherparamountdutytodosomethingofthisatthepresentmoment？Mightitnotbethathisacquittalorconvictionwoulddependonwhatshemightnowlearnfromhim？ItwascleartoherthathewasbrighterinspiritsincehisencounterwiththeProudiesthanhehadeverbeensincetheaccusationhadbeenfirstmadeagainsthim。Andsheknewwellthathispresentmoodwouldnotbeoflongcontinuance。Hewouldfallagainintohismoodysilentways，andthenthechanceoflearningaughtfromhimwouldbepast，andperhaps，forever。
HeperformedtheChristmasserviceswithnothingofspecialdespondencyinhistoneormanner，andhiswifethoughtthatshehadneverheardhimgivethesacramentwithmoreimpressivedignity。Aftertheservicehestoodawhileatthechurchyardgate，andexchangedawordofcourtesyastotheseasonwithsuchofthefamiliesofthefarmersashadstayedfortheLord’sSupper。
’IwaitedatFramleyforyourreverencetillartersix——soIdid，’saidfarmerMangle。
’Ikepttheroad，andwalkedthewholeway，’saidMrCrawley，’IthinkI
toldyouthatIshouldnotreturntothemill。ButIamnotthelessobligedbyyourgreatkindness。’
’Saynowto’that，’saidthefarmer。’NodoubtIhadbusinessatthemill——lotstodoatthemill。’NordidhethinkthefibhewastellingwasatallincompatiblewiththeHolySacramentinwhichhehadjusttakenpart。
TheChristmasdinnerattheparsonagewasnotarepastthatdidmuchhonourtotheseason，butitwasabetterdinnerthantheinhabitantsofthathouseusuallyhadontheboardbeforethem。Therewasroastporkandmince—pies，andabottleofwine。AsMrsCrawleywithherownhandputthemeatuponthetable，andthen，aswashercustomintheirhouse，proceededtocutitup，shelookedathusband’sfacetoseewhetherhewasscrutinisingthefoodwithpainfuleye。Itwasbetterthatsheshouldtellthetruthatoncethanthatsheshouldbemadetotellit，inanswertoaquestion。Everythingonthetable，exceptthebreadandpotatoes，hadcomeinabasketfromFramleyCourt。Porkhadbeensentinsteadofbeef，becausepeopleinthecountry，whentheykilltheirpigs，dosometimesgiveeachotherpork——butdonotexchangejointsofbeef，whentheyslaytheiroxen。AllthiswasunderstoodbyMrsCrawley，butshealmostwishedthatbeefhadbeensent，becausebeefwouldhaveattractedlessattention。Hesaid，however，nothingtothemeat；butwhenhiswifeproposedtohimthatheshouldeatamince—pieheresentedit。’Thebarefood，’saidhe，’isbitterenough，comingasitdoes；butthatwouldchokeme。’Shedidnotpressit，butateoneherself，asotherwisehergirlwouldhavebeenforcedalsotorefusethedainty。
Thatevening，assoonasJanewasinbed，sheresolvedtoaskhimsomefurtherquestions。’Youwillhavealawyer，Josiah——willyounot？’
’WhyshouldIhavealawyer？’
’Becausehewillknowwhatquestionstoask，andhowquestionsontheothersideshouldbeanswered。’
’Ihavenoquestionstoask，andthereisonlyonewayinwhichquestionsshouldbeanswered。Ihavenomoneytopayalawyer。’
’But，Josiah，insuchacaseasthis，whereyourhonour，andourverylifedependuponit——’
’Dependonwhat？’
’Onyouracquittal。’
’Ishallnotbeacquitted。Itisaswelltolookitinthefaceatonce。Lawyerornolawyer，theywillsaythatItookthemoney。WereI
uponthejury，tryingthecasemyself，knowingallthatIknownow，’——andashesaidthishestruckforthwithhishandsintotheair——’IthinkthatIshouldsaysomyself。Alawyerwilldonogood。Itishere。Itishere。’Andagainheputhishandsuptohishead。
Sofarshehadbeensuccessful。Atthismomentithadintruthbeenherobjecttoinducehimtospeakofhisownmemory，andnotoftheaidthatalawyermightgive。Thepropositionofthelawyerhadbeenbroughtintointroducethesubject。
’But，Josiah——’
’Well？’
Itwasveryhardforhertospeak。Shecouldnotbeartotormenthimbyanyallusiontohisowndeficiencies。Shecouldnotenduretomakehimthinkthatshesuspectedhimofanyfrailtyeitherinintellectorthought。Wifelike，shedesiredtoworshiphim，andthatheshouldknowthatsheworshippedhim。Butifawordmightsavehim！’Josiah，wherediditcomefrom？’
’Yes，’saidhe；’yes；thatisthequestion。Wherediditcomefrom：？’——andheturnedsharpuponher，lookingatherwithallthepowerofhiseyes。’ItisbecauseIcannottellyouwhereitcamefromthatI
oughttobe——eitherinBedlam，asamadman，orinthecountygaolasathief。’Thewordsweresodreadfultoherthatshecouldnotutteratthemomentanothersyllable。’Howisaman——tothinkhimself——fit——foraman’swork，whenhecannotanswerhiswifesuchaplainquestionasthat？’Thenhepausedagain。’TheyshouldtakemetoBedlamatonce——atonce——atonce。Thatwouldnotdisgracethechildrenasthegaolwilldo。’
MrsCrawleycouldasknofurtherquestionsonthatevening。
CHAPTERXX
WHATMRWALKERTHOUGHTABOUTIT
IthadbeensuggestedtoMrRobarts，thatparsonatFramley，thatheshouldendeavourtoinducehisoldacquaintance，MrCrawley，toemployalawyertodefendhimathistrial，andMrRobartshadnotforgottenthecommissionwhichhehadundertaken。Butthereweredifficultiesinthematterofwhichhewaswellaware。InthefirstplaceMrCrawleywasamanwhomithadnotatanytimebeeneasytoadviseonmattersprivatetohimself；andinthenextplace，thiswasamatteronwhichitwasveryhardtospeaktothemanimplicated，lethimbewhohewould。MrRobartshadcomeroundtothegenerallyacceptedideathatMrCrawleyhadobtainedpossessionofthechequeillegally——acquittinghisfriendinhisownmindoftheft，simplybysupposingthathewaswool—gatheringwhenthechequecameinhisway。ButinspeakingtoMrCrawley，itwouldbenecessary——sohethought——topretendaconvictionthatMrCrawleywasasinnocentinfactasinintention。
HehadalmostmadeuphismindtodashatthesubjectwhenhemetMrCrawleywalkingthroughFramleytoBarchester，buthehadabstainedchieflybecauseMrCrawleyhadbeentooquickforhim，andhadgotaway。
Afterthatheresolvedthatitwouldbealmostuselessforhimtogotoworkunlessheshouldbeprovidedwithalawyerreadingandwillingtoundertakethetask；andashewasnotsoprovidedatpresent，hemadeuphismindthathewouldgointoSilverbridge，andseeMrWalker，theattorneythere。MrWalkeralwaysadvisedeverybodyinthosepartsabouteverything，andwouldbesuretoknowwhatwouldbetheproperthingtobedoneinthiscase。SoMrRobartsgotintohisgig，anddrovehimselfintoSilverbridge，passingveryclosetoMrCrawley’shouseonhisroad。
HedroveatoncetoMrWalker’soffice，andonarrivingtherefoundthattheattorneywasnotatthatmomentwithin。ButMrWinthropwaswithin。
WouldMrRobartsseeMrWinthrop？Now，seeingMrWinthropwasaverydifferentthingfromseeingMrWalker，althoughthetwogentlemenwerepartners。ButstillMrRobartssaidthathewouldseeMrWinthrop。
PerhapsMrWalkermightreturnwhilehewasthere。
’IsthereanythingIcandoforyou，MrRobarts？’askedMrWinthrop。MrRobartssaidthathehadwishedtoseeMrWalkeraboutthatpoorfellowCrawley。’Ah，yes；verysaidcase！Somuchsadderbeingaclergyman，MrRobarts。Wearereallyquitesorryforhim；——weareindeed。Wewouldn’thavetouchedthecaseourselvesifwecouldhavehelpedourselves。Wewouldn’tindeed。Butweareobligedtotakeallthatbusinesshere。Atanyratehe’llgetnothingbutfairusagefromus。’
’Iamsureofthat。Youdon’tknowwhetherhehasemployedanylawyerasyettodefendhim？’
’Ican’tsay。Wedon’tknow，youknow。Ishouldsayhehad——probablysomeBarchesterattorney。BorleysandBonstockinBarchesterareverygoodpeople——verygoodpeopleindeed；——forthatsortofbusinessImean，MrRobarts。Idon’tsupposetheyhavemuchcountypropertyintheirhands。’
MrRobartsknewthatMrWinthropwasafool，andthathecouldgetnousefuladvicefromhim。Sohesuggestedthathewouldtakehisgigdowntotheinn，andcallbackagainbeforelong。’You’llfindthatMrWalkerknowsnomorethanIdoaboutit，’saidMrWinthrop，’butofcoursehe’llbegladtoseeyouifhehappenstocomein。’SoMrRobartswenttotheinn，putuphishorse，andthen，ashesaunteredbackupthestreet，metMrWalkercomingoutoftheprivatedoorofhishouse。
’I’vebeenathomeallthemorning，’hesaid；’butI’vehadastiffjobofworkonhand，andtoldthemtosayintheofficethatIwasnotin。
SeenWinthrop，haveyou？Idon’tsupposehedidknowthatIwashere。
Theclerksoftenknowmorethanthepartners。AboutMrCrawley，isit？
Comeintomydining—room，MrRobarts，whereweshallbealone。Yes；——itisabadcase；averybadcase。Thepityisthatanybodyshouldhavesaidanythingaboutit。Lordblessme，ifI’dbeenSoamesI’dhavelethimhavethetwentypounds。LordLuftonwouldneverhaveallowedSoamestoloseit。’
’ButSoameswantedtofindoutthetruth。’
’Yes；——thatwasjustit。Soamescouldn’tbeartothinkthatheshouldbeleftinthedark，andthen，whenthepoormansaidthatSoameshadpaidthechequetohiminthewayofbusiness——itwasnotoddthatSoames’sbackshouldhavebeenup，wasit？But，MrRobarts，IshouldhavethoughtadealaboutitbeforeIshouldhavebroughtsuchamanasMrCrawleybeforeabenchofmagistratesonthatcharge。’
’Butbetweenmeandyou，MrWalker，didhestealthemoney？’
’Well，MrRobarts，youknowhowI’mplaced。’
’MrCrawleyismyfriend，andofcourseIwanttoassisthim。IwasunderagreatobligationtoMrCrawleyonce，andIwishtobefriendhim，whetherhetookthemoneyornot。ButIcouldactsomuchbetterifI
feltsureonewayortheother。’
’Ifyouaskme，Ithinkhedidtakeit。’
’What！——hestoleit？’
’Ithinkheknewitwasnothisownwhenhetookit。YouseeIdon’tthinkhemeanttouseitwhenhetookit。HeperhapshadsomequeerideathatSoameshadbeenhardonhim，orhislordship，andthatthemoneywasfairlyhisdue。Thenhekeptthechequebyhimtillhewasabsolutelybadgeredoutofhislifebythebutcherupthestreetthere。
Thatwasaboutthelongandtheshortofit，MrRobarts。’
’Isupposeso。Andnowwhathadwebetterdo？’
’Well；ifyouaskme——Heisinverybadhealth，isn’the？’
’No；Ishouldsaynot。HewalkedtoBarchesterandbacktheotherday。’
’Didhe？Buthe’sveryqueer，isn’the？’
’Veryodd—manneredindeed。’
’Anddoesandsaysallmannerofoddthings？’
’Ithinkyou’dfindthebishopwouldsaysoafterthatinterview。’
’Well；ifitwoulddoanygood，youmighthavethebishopexamined。’
’Examinedforwhat，MrWalker？’
’Ifyoucouldshow，youknow，thatCrawleyhasgotabeeinhisbonnet；
thatthemenssanaisnotthere，inshort；——Ithinkyoumightmanagetohavethetrialpostponed。’
’Butthensomebodymusttakechargeofhisliving。’
’Youparsonscouldmanagethatamongyou；——youandthedeanandthearchdeacon。Thearchdeaconhasalwaysgothalf—a—dozencuratesaboutsomewhere。Andthen——aftertheassizes，MrCrawleymightcometohissenses；andIthink——mindyouit’sonlyanidea——butIthinkthecommittalmightbequashed。Itwouldhavebeentemporaryinsanity，and，thoughmindIdon’tgivemywordforit，Ithinkhemightgoonandkeephisliving。Ithinkso，MrRobarts。’
’Thathasneveroccurredtome。’
’No；——Idaresaynot。Youseethedifficultyisthis。He’ssostiff—necked——willdonothinghimself。Well，thatwilldoforoneproofoftemporaryinsanity。Therealtruthis，MrRobarts，heisasmadasahatter。’
’UponmywordI’veoftenthoughtso。’
’Andyouwouldn’tmindsayingsoinevidence——wouldyou？Well，yousee，thereisnohelpingsuchamaninanyotherway。Hewon’tevenemployalawyertodefendhim。’
’ThatwaswhatIhadcometoyouabout。’
’I’mtoldhewon’t。Nowamanmustbemadwhowon’temployalawyerwhenhewantsone。Yousee，thepointweshouldgainwouldbethis——ifwetriedtogethimthroughasbeingalittletouchedintheupperstorey——whateverwecoulddoforhim，wecoulddoagainsthisownwill。
Themoreheopposedusthestrongerourcasewouldbe。Hewouldswearhewasnotmadatall，andweshouldsaythatthatwasthegreatestsignofhismadness。ButwhenIsaywe，ofcourseImeanyou。Imustnotappearinit。’
’Iwishyoucould，MrWalker。’
’OfcourseIcan’t；butthatwon’tmakeanydifference。’
’Isupposehemustseealawyer？’
’Yes，hemusthavealawyer；——orrather，hisfriendsmust。’
’Andwhowouldemployhim，ostensibly？’
’Ah；——there’sthedifficulty。Hiswifewouldn’tdoit，Isuppose？Shecouldn’tdohimabetterturn。’
’Hewouldneverforgiveher。Andshewouldneverconsentagainsthim。’
’Couldyouinterfere？’
’Ifnecessary，Iwill；——butIhardlyknowhimwellenough。’
’Hashenofatherormother，orunclesoraunts？Hemusthavesomebodybelongingtohim，’saidMrWalker。
ThenitoccurredtoMrRobartsthatDeanArabinwouldbetheproperpersontointerfere。DeanArabinandMrCrawleyhadbeenintimatefriendsinearlylife，andDeanArabinknewmoreofhimthandidanyman，atleastintheseparts。AllthisMrRobartsexplainedtoMrWalker，andMrWalkeragreedwithhimthattheservicesofDeanArabinshouldifpossiblebeobtained。MrRobartswouldatoncewritetoDeanArabinandexplainatlengthallthecircumstancesofthecase。’Theworstofitis，hewillhardlybehomeintime，’saidMrWalker。
’Perhapshewouldcomealittlesoonerifyouweretopressit？’
’Butwecouldactinhisnameinhisabsence，Isuppose？——ofcoursewithhisauthority？’
’Iwishhecouldbehereamonthbeforetheassizes，MrRobarts。Itwouldbebetter。’
’AndinthemeantimeshallIsayanythingtoMrCrawley，myself，aboutemployingalawyer？’
’IthinkIwould。Ifheturnsuponyou，aslikehemay，andabusesyou，thatwillhelpusinoneway。Ifheshouldconsent，andperhapshemay，thatwouldhelpusintheotherway。I’mtoldhe’sbeenoverandupsetthewholecoachofthepalace。’
’Ishouldn’tthinkthebishopgotmuchofhim，’saidtheparson。
’Idon’tlikeCrawleythelessforspeakinghismindfreetothebishop，’saidthelawyer，laughing。’Andhe’llspeakitfreetoyoutoo，MrRobarts。’
’Hewon’tbreakanyofmybones。Tellme，MrWalker，whatlawyershallInametohim？’