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.