"He'll have a weary Christmas," remarked an old weaver as the prison van went towards the station. "I wish I could send him summat to make it a bit brighter, but what can us do?"
"At ony rate, we can pray for his soul."
A little later Paul was brought back to Brunford again. He had to appear a second time before the magistrates, who, after another examination, committed him for trial to the Manchester Assizes.
"What'll happen to him now?" asked someone after the committal.
"He'll have to stay in Strangeways Gaol in Manchester until the Assizes are held," was the reply.
"When will that be?"
"It may be weeks; it may be months. But I expect it'll be held somewhere about the end of January." It was a young lawyer who said this, who was hoping that the trial would mean some work for him.
"Poor Paul!" was the response. "I wonder how his mother is takin' it?"