tain. But he'd better come in
the carriage, if only because of the dirt and slush."

"He will go in the carriage; and I will go with him. There will be
room for you there, sir."

Thompson looked up at the rain, and told himself that it was very
cold. Then he remembered Mr. Walker's injunction, and bethought
himself that Mrs. Crawley, in spite of her poverty, was a lady. He
conceived even unconsciously the idea that something was due to her
because of her poverty. "I'll go with the driver," said he, "but
he'll only give hisself a deal of trouble if he attempts to get out."

"He won't; he won't," said Mrs. Crawley. "And I thank you with all my
heart."

"Come along, then," said Thompson.

She went up to her husband, hat in hand, and looking round to see
that she was not watched, put the hat on his head, and then lifted
him as it were from the chair. He did not refuse to be led, and
allowed her to throw round his shoulders the old cloak which was
hanging in the passage, and then he passed out, and was the first
to seat himself in the Silverbridge fly. His wife followed him, and
did not hear the blandishments with which Thompson instructed his
myrmidon to follow through the mud on foot. Slowly they made their
way through the lanes, and it was nearly twelve when the fly was
driven into the yard of the "George and Vulture" at Silverbridge.

Silverbridge, though it was blessed with a mayor and corporation, and
was blessed also with a Member of Parliament all to itself, was not
blessed with any courthouse. The magistrates were therefore compelled
to sit in the big room at the "George and Vulture", in which the
county balls were celebrated, and the meeting of the West Barsetshire
freemasons was held. That part of the country was, no doubt, very
much ashamed of its backwardness in this respect, but as yet nothing
had been done to remedy the evil. Thompson and his fly were therefore
driven into the yard of the inn, and Mr. and Mrs. Crawley were ushered
by him up into a little bed-chamber close adjoining to the big room
in which the magistrates were already assembled. "There's a bit of
fire here," said Thompson, "and you can make yourselves a little
warm." He himself was shivering with the cold. "When the gents is
ready in there, I'll just come and fetch you."

"I may go in with him?" said Mrs. Crawley.

"I'll have a chair for you at the end of the table, just nigh to
him," said Thompson. "You can slip into it and say noth