A talking-to by the Chairman, if I might
suggest--"
"Yes, yes," agreed Parson Voisey. "And I'll have a word with Selina
afterwards. She used to attend my Young Women's Class--one of my
most satisfactory girls."
"We'll see--we'll see," said the Admiral. "Are we ready, gentlemen?"
He led the way into Court, where all rose in sign of respect--Mr.
Batty's confidential clerk, the Inspector, a solitary constable, a
tattered old man in the constable's charge, and the two Trudgians.
These last occupied extreme ends of the same form; the husband
sullen, with set jaw and eyes obstinately fixed on his boots, the
young wife flushed of face and tearful, stealing from time to time a
defiant glance at her spouse.
In face of this scanty audience the six Justices solemnly took their
seats.
"Thomas Edwards!" called the Clerk.
The tattered old man cringed up to the table, with an embarrassed
smile, which yet had a touch of impudence about the corners of the
mouth.
"Thomas Edwards, you stand charged for that on a certain date, to
wit, June 6th, you, not having any visible means of subsistence, and
not giving a good account of yourself, were found lodging in a
certain outhouse known as Lobb's Barn, in the Parish of Gantick,
contrary, etc.
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