"Yes;--it is possible," said Lady Lufton. "I suppose there is not
one in the county who does not truly wish it may not be so. But it
is right to be prepared for all alternatives. In such case have you
thought what you will do?"

"I do not know what they would do to him," said she.

"I suppose that for some time he would be--"

"Put in prison," said Mrs. Crawley, speaking very quickly, bringing
out the words with a sharp eagerness that was quite unusual to her.
"They will send him to gaol. Is it not so, Lady Lufton?"

"I suppose it would be so; not for long I should hope; but I presume
that such would be the sentence for some short period."

"And I might not go with him?"

"No, that would be impossible."

"And the house, and the living; would they let him have them again
when he came out?"

"Ah; that I cannot say. That will depend much, probably, on what
these clergymen will report. I hope he will not put himself in
opposition to them."

"I do not know. I cannot say. It is probable that he may do so. It
is not easy for a man so injured as he has been, and one at the same
time so great in intelligence, to submit himself gently to such
inquiries. When ill is being done to himself or others he is very
prone to oppose it."

"But these gentlemen do not wish to do him ill, Mrs. Crawley."

"I cannot say. I do not know. When I think of it I see that there is
nothing but ruin on every side. What is the use of talking of it? Do
not be angry, Lady Lufton, if I say that it is of no use."

"But I desire to be of use,--of real use. If it should be the case,
Mrs. Crawley, that your husband should be--detained at Barchester--"

"You mean imprisoned, Lady Lufton."

"Yes, I mean imprisoned. If it should be so, then do you bring
yourself and your children,--all of them,--over to Framley, and I
will find a home for you while he is lost to you."

"Oh, Lady Lufton; I could not do that."

"Yes, you can. You have not heard me yet. It would not be a comfort
to you in such a home as that to sit at table with people who are
partly strangers to you. But there is a cottage nearly adjoining to
the house, which you shall have all to yourself. The bailiff lived
in it once, and others have lived in it who belong to the place; but
it is empty now and it shall be made comfortable." The tears were
now running down Mrs. Crawley's face, so that she could not answer a
word. "Of course it is my son's property, and not mine, but he has
comm