he
to the world? And then the expense! "If you do not wish me to apply
to your cousin, say so, and there shall be an end of it," said Mr
Crawley in an angry tone.

"Of course I would wish it. I believe him to be an excellent man, and
a good lawyer."

"Then why should I not go to his chambers? In forma pauperis I must
go to him, and must tell him so. I cannot pay him for the labour of
his counsel, nor for such minutes of his time as I shall use."

"Oh, Josiah, you need not speak of that."

"But I must speak of it. Can I go to a professional man, who keeps
as it were his shop open for those who may think fit to come, and
purchase of him, and take of his goods, and afterwards, when the
goods have been used, tell him that I have not the price in my hand?
I will not do that, Mary. You think that I am mad, that I know not
what I do. Yes,--I see it in your eyes; and you are sometimes partly
right. But I am not so mad but that I know what is honest. I will
tell your cousin that I am sore straitened, and brought down into the
very dust by misfortune. And I will beseech him, for what of ancient
feeling of family he may bear to you, to listen to me for a while.
And I will be very short, and, if need be, will bide his time
patiently, and perhaps he may say a word to me that may be of use."

There was certainly very much in this to provoke Mrs. Crawley. It
was not only that she knew well that her cousin would give ample
and immediate attention, and lend himself thoroughly to the matter
without any idea of payment,--but that she could not quite believe
that her husband's humility was true humility. She strove to believe
it, but knew that she failed. After all it was only a feeling on her
part. There was no argument within herself about it. An unpleasant
taste came across the palate of her mind, as such a savour will
sometimes, from some unexpected source, come across the palate of the
mouth. Well; she could only gulp at it, and swallow it and excuse it.
Among the salad that comes from your garden a bitter leaf will now
and then make its way into your salad-bowl. Alas, there were so many
bitter leaves ever making their way into her bowl! "What I mean is,
Josiah, that no long explanation will be needed. I think, from what I
remember of him, that he would do for us anything that he could do."

"Then I will go to the man, and will humble myself before him. Even
that, hard as it is to me, may be a duty that I owe." Mr. Crawley as