It has a nobility of its own, made sacred by many tears, by the flowing of streams of blood from unseen wounds, which cannot descend from its dais to receive pity and kindness.  A consciousness of undeserved woe produces a grandeur of its own, with which the high-souled sufferer will not easily part.  Baskets full of eggs, pounds of eleemosynary butter, quarters of given pork, even second-hand clothing from the wardrobe of some richer sister—­even money, unsophisticated money, she could accept.  She had learned how that it was her portion of her allotted misery to take such things—­for the sake of her children and her husband—­and to be thankful for them.  She did take them and was thankful; and in the taking she submitted herself to the rod of cruel circumstances; but she could not even yet bring herself to accept spoken pity from a stranger, and to kiss the speaker.

‘Can we not do something to help you?’ said Mrs Robarts.  She would not have spoken but she perceived that Lady Lufton had completed her appeal, and that Mrs Crawley did not seem prepared to answer it.

‘You have done so much to help us,’ said Mrs Crawley.  ’The things you have sent us have been very serviceable.’

‘But we mean something more than that,’ said Lady Lufton.

‘I do not know what there is more,’ said Mrs Crawley.  ’A bit to eat and something to wear;—­that seems to be all that we have to care for now.’

‘But we were afraid that this coming trial must cause you much anxiety.’

’Of course it causes anxiety;—­but what can we do?  It must be so.  It cannot be put off or avoided.  We have made up our minds to it now, and almost wish that it would come quicker.  If it were once over, I think that he would be better whatever the result might be.’

Then there was another lull in the conversation, and Lady Lufton began to be afraid that her visit would be a failure.  She thought that perhaps she might get on better if Grace were not in the room, and she turned over in her mind various schemes for sending her away.  And perhaps her task would be easier if Mrs Robarts also could be banished for a time.  ‘Fanny, my dear,’ she said at last, boldly, ’I know you have a little plan to arrange with Miss Crawley.  Perhaps you will be more likely to be successful if you can take a turn with her alone.’  There was not much subtlety in her ladyship’s scheme; but it answered the proposed purpose, and the two elder ladies were soon left face to face, so that Lady Lufton had a fair pretext for making another attempt.  ’Dear Mrs Crawley,’ she said, ’I do so long to say a word to you, but I fear that I may be thought to interfere.’

‘Oh, no, Lady Lufton; I have no feeling of that kind.’

’I have asked your daughter and Mrs Robarts to go out because I can speak to you more easily alone.  I wish I could teach you to trust me.’

‘I do trust you.’

’As a friend, I mean;—­as a real friend.  If it should be the case, Mrs Crawley, that a jury should give a verdict against your husband—­what will you do then?  Perhaps I should not suppose that it is possible.’