MR CRAWLEY IS TAKEN TO SILVERBRIDGE

It had become necessary on the Monday morning that Mrs Crawley should obtain from her husband an undertaking that he should present himself before the magistrates at Silverbridge on the Thursday.  She had been made to understand that the magistrates were sinning against the strict rule of law in not issuing a warrant at once for Mr Crawley’s apprehension; and they were so sinning at the instance of Mr Walker—­at whose instance they would have committed almost any sin practicable by a board of English magistrates, so great was their faith in him; and she knew that she was bound to answer her engagement.  She had also another task to perform—­that, namely, of persuading him to employ an attorney for his defence; and she was prepared with the name of an attorney, one Mr Mason, also of Silverbridge, 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 found that he was equally obstinate in the other matter, and that he declared that he would not go before the magistrates unless he were made to do so—­unless the policeman came and fetched him, then she almost sank beneath the burden of her troubles, and for a while was disposed to let things go as they would.  How could she strive to bear a load that was so manifestly too heavy for her shoulders?

On the Sunday the poor man had exerted himself to get through his Sunday duties, and he had succeeded.  He had succeeded so well that his wife had thought that things might yet come right with him, that he would remember, before it was too late, the true history of that unhappy piece of paper, and that he was rising above that half madness which for months past had afflicted him.

On the Sunday evening, when he was tired with his work, she thought it best to say nothing to him about the magistrates and the business of Thursday.  But on Monday morning she commenced her task, feeling that she owed it to Mr Walker to lose no more time.  He was very decided in his manners and made her to understand that he would employ no lawyer on his own behalf.  ‘Why should I want a lawyer?  I have done nothing wrong,’ he said.  Then she tried to make him understand that many who may have done nothing wrong require a lawyer’s aid.  ‘And who is to pay him?’ he asked.  To 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.’