'It is a mystery, dear, as yet, which, with God's aid, will be
unravelled. Of one thing we at least may be sure; that your papa has not
wilfully done anything wrong.'

'Of course we are sure of that, mamma.'

Mrs Crawley had many troubles during the next four or five days, of
which the worst, perhaps, had reference to the services of the Sunday
which intervened between the day of her visit to Silverbridge and the
sitting of the magistrates. On the Saturday it was necessary that he
should prepare his sermons, of which he preached two every Sunday,
though his congregation consisted only of farmers, brickmakers, and
agricultural labourers, who would willingly have dispensed with the
second. Mrs Crawley proposed to send over to Mr Robarts, a neighbouring
clergyman, for the loan of a curate. Mr Robarts was a warm friend to the
Crawleys, and in such an emergency would probably have come himself; but
Mr Crawley would not hear of it. The discussion took place early on the
Saturday morning, before it was as yet daylight, for the poor woman was
thinking day and night of her husband's troubles, and it had this good
effect, that immediately after breakfast he seated himself at his desk,
and worked at his task as though he had forgotten all else in the world.

And on the Sunday morning he went into his school before the hour of the
church service, as had been his wont, and taught there as though
everything with him was as usual. Some of the children were absent,
having heard of their teacher's tribulation, and having been told
probably that he would remit his work; and for these absent ones he sent
in great anger. The poor bairns came creeping in, for he was a man who
by his manners had been able to secure their obedience in spite of his
poverty. And he preached to the people of his parish on that Sunday, as