第6章

Shebrightenedwithalittleglowoftriumph，swepthimalmosttenderlywithhereyesinturning，andretracingherstepsdownthebrooksidegrassrejoinedhercompanions。

JudeFawleyshoulderedhistool-basketandresumedhislonelyway，filledwithanardouratwhichhementallystoodatgaze。Hehadjustinhaledasinglebreathfromanewatmosphere，whichhadevidentlybeenhangingroundhimeverywherehewent，forheknewnothowlong，buthadsomehowbeendividedfromhisactualbreathingasbyasheetofglass。

Theintentionsastoreading，working，andlearning，whichhehadsopreciselyformulatedonlyafewminutesearlier，weresufferingacuriouscollapseintoacorner，heknewnothow。

`Well，it’sonlyabitoffun，’hesaidtohimself，faintlyconsciousthattocommonsensetherewassomethinglacking，andstillmoreobviouslysomethingredundantinthenatureofthisgirlwhohaddrawnhimtoherwhichmadeitnecessarythatheshouldassertmeresportivenessonhispartashisreasoninseekingher-somethinginherquiteantipathetictothatsideofhimwhichhadbeenoccupiedwithliterarystudyandthemagnificentChristminsterdream。Ithadbeennovestalwhochosethatmissileforopeningherattackonhim。Hesawthiswithhisintellectualeye，justforashort；fleetingwhile，asbythelightofafallinglamponemightmomentarilyseeaninscriptiononawallbeforebeingenshroudedindarkness。Andthenthispassingdiscriminativepowerwaswithdrawn，andJudewaslosttoallconditionsofthingsintheadventofafreshandwildpleasure，thatofhavingfoundanewchannelforemotionalinteresthithertounsuspected，thoughithadlainclosebesidehim。HewastomeetthisenkindlingoneoftheothersexonthefollowingSunday。

Meanwhilethegirlhadjoinedhercompanions，andshesilentlyresumedherflickingandsousingofthechitterlingsinthepellucidstream。

`Catchedun，mydear？’laconicallyaskedthegirlcalledAnny。

`Idon’tknow。IwishIhadthrownsomethingelsethanthat！’

regretfullymurmuredArabella。

`Lord！he’snobody，thoughyoumedthinkso。HeusedtodriveoldDrusillaFawley’sbread-cartoutatMarygreen，tillhe’prenticedhimselfatAlfredston。Sincethenhe’sbeenverystuckup，andalwaysreading。

Hewantstobeascholar，theysay。’

`Oh，Idon’tcarewhatheis，oranythingabout’n。Don’tyouthinkit，mychild！’

`Oh，don’tye！Youneedn’ttrytodeceiveus！Whatdidyoustaytalkingtohimfor，ifyoudidn’twantun？Whetheryoudoorwhetheryoudon’t，he’sassimpleasachild。Icouldseeitasyoucourtedonthebridge，whenhelookedat’eeasifhehadneverseenawomanbeforeinhisborndays。Well，he’stobehadbyanywomanwhocangethimtocareforherabit，ifshelikestosetherselftocatchhimtherightway。’

JudetheObscureChapter07I-viiThenextdayJudeFawleywaspausinginhisbedroomwiththeslopingceiling，lookingatthebooksonthetable，andthenattheblackmarkontheplasterabovethem，madebythesmokeofhislampinpastmonths。

ItwasSundayafternoon，four-and-twentyhoursafterhismeetingwithArabellaDonn。Duringthewholebygoneweekhehadbeenresolvingtosetthisafternoonapartforaspecialpurpose，-there-readingofhisGreekTestament-hisnewone，withbettertypethanhisoldcopy，followingGriesbach’stextasamendedbynumerouscorrectors，andwithvariorumreadingsinthemargin。Hewasproudofthebook，havingobtaineditbyboldlywritingtoitsLondonpublisher，athinghehadneverdonebefore。

Hehadanticipatedmuchpleasureinthisafternoon’sreading，underthequietroofofhisgreat-aunt’shouseasformerly，wherehenowsleptonlytwonightsaweek。Butanewthing，agreathitch，hadhappenedyesterdayintheglidingandnoiselesscurrentofhislife，andhefeltasasnakemustfeelwhohassloughedoffitswinterskin，andcannotunderstandthebrightnessandsensitivenessofitsnewone。

Hewouldnotgoouttomeether，afterall。Hesatdown，openedthebook，andwithhiselbowsfirmlyplantedonthetable，andhishandstohistemplesbeganatthebeginning：

HKAINHDIAQHKHHadhepromisedtocallforher？Surelyhehad！Shewouldwaitindoors，poorgirl，andwasteallherafternoononaccountofhim。Therewasasomethinginher，too，whichwasverywinning，apartfrompromises。Heoughtnottobreakfaithwithher。EventhoughhehadonlySundaysandweek-dayeveningsforreadinghecouldaffordoneafternoon，seeingthatotheryoungmenaffordedsomany。Afterto-dayhewouldneverprobablyseeheragain。Indeed，itwouldbeimpossible，consideringwhathisplanswere。

Inshort，asifmaterially，acompellingarmofextraordinarymuscularpowerseizedholdofhim-somethingwhichhadnothingincommonwiththespiritsandinfluencesthathadmovedhimhitherto。Thisseemedtocarelittleforhisreasonandhiswill，nothingforhisso-calledelevatedintentions，andmovedhimalong，asaviolentschoolmasteraschoolboyhehasseizedbythecollar，inadirectionwhichtendedtowardstheembraceofawomanforwhomhehadnorespect，andwhoselifehadnothingincommonwithhisownexceptlocality。

HKAINHDIAQHKHwasnomoreheeded，andthepredestinateJudesprangupandacrosstheroom。Foreseeingsuchaneventhehadalreadyarrayedhimselfinhisbestclothes。Inthreeminuteshewasoutofthehouseanddescendingbythepathacrossthewidevacanthollowofcorn-groundwhichlaybetweenthevillageandtheisolatedhouseofArabellainthedipbeyondtheupland。

Ashewalkedhelookedathiswatch。Hecouldbebackintwohours，easily，andagoodlongtimewouldstillremaintohimforreadingaftertea。

Passingthefewunhealthyfir-treesandcottagewherethepathjoinedthehighwayhehastenedalong，andstruckawaytotheleft，descendingthesteepsideofthecountrytothewestoftheBrownHouse。Hereatthebaseofthechalkformationhenearedthebrookthatoozedfromit，andfollowedthestreamtillhereachedherdwelling。Asmellofpiggeriescamefromtheback，andthegruntingoftheoriginatorsofthatsmell。

Heenteredthegarden，andknockedatthedoorwiththeknobofhisstick。

Somebodyhadseenhimthroughthewindow，foramalevoiceontheinsidesaid：

`Arabella！Here’syouryoungmancomecoorting！Mizzle，mygirl！’

Judewincedatthewords。Courtinginsuchabusiness-likeaspectasitevidentlyworetothespeakerwasthelastthinghewasthinkingof。Hewasgoingtowalkwithher，perhapskissher；but`courting’wastoocoollypurposefultobeanythingbutrepugnanttohisideas。Thedoorwasopenedandheentered，justasArabellacamedownstairsinradiantwalkingattire。

`Takeachair，Mr。What’s-your-name？’saidherfather，anenergetic，black-whiskeredman，inthesamebusinessliketonesJudehadheardfromoutside。

`I’drathergooutatonce，wouldn’tyou？’shewhisperedtoJude。

`Yes，’saidhe。`We’llwalkuptotheBrownHouseandback，wecandoitinhalfanhour。’

Arabellalookedsohandsomeamidheruntidysurroundingsthathefeltgladhehadcome，andallthemisgivingsvanishedthathadhithertohauntedhim。

Firsttheyclamberedtothetopofthegreatdown，duringwhichascenthehadoccasionallytotakeherhandtoassisther。Thentheyboreofftotheleftalongthecrestintotheridgeway，whichtheyfollowedtillitintersectedthehigh-roadattheBrownHouseaforesaid，thespotofhisformerferviddesirestobeholdChristminster。Butheforgotthemnow。HetalkedthecommonestlocaltwaddletoArabellawithgreaterzestthanhewouldhavefeltindiscussingallthephilosophieswithalltheDonsintherecentlyadoreduniversity，andpassedthespotwherehehadknelttoDianaandPhoebuswithoutrememberingthattherewereanysuchpeopleinthemythology，orthatthesunwasanythingelsethanausefullampforilluminatingArabella’sface。Anindescribablelightnessofheelservedtolifthimalong；andJude，theincipientscholar，prospectiveD。D。，professor，bishop，orwhatnot，felthimselfhonouredandglorifiedbythecondescensionofthishandsomecountrywenchinagreeingtotakeawalkwithhiminherSundayfrockandribbons。

TheyreachedtheBrownHousebarn-thepointatwhichhehadplannedtoturnback。Whilelookingoverthevastnorthernlandscapefromthisspottheywerestruckbytherisingofadensevolumeofsmokefromtheneighbourhoodofthelittletownwhichlaybeneaththematadistanceofacoupleofmiles。

`Itisafire，’saidArabella。`Let’srunandseeit-do！Itisnotfar！’

ThetendernesswhichhadgrownupinJude’sbosomlefthimnowilltothwartherinclinationnow-whichpleasedhiminaffordinghimexcuseforalongertimewithher。Theystartedoffdownthehillalmostatatrot；butongaininglevelgroundatthebottom，andwalkingamile，theyfoundthatthespotofthefirewasmuchfurtheroffthanithadseemed。

Havingbeguntheirjourney，however，theypushedon；butitwasnottillfiveo’clockthattheyfoundthemselvesonthescene，-thedistancebeingaltogetherabouthalf-a-dozenmilesfromMarygreen，andthreefromArabella’s。Theconflagrationhadbeengotunderbythetimetheyreachedit，andafterashortinspectionofthemelancholyruinstheyretracedtheirsteps-theircourselyingthroughthetownofAlfredston。

Arabellasaidshewouldlikesometea，andtheyenteredaninnofaninferiorclass，andgavetheirorder。Asitwasnotforbeertheyhadalongtimetowait。Themaid-servantrecognizedJude，andwhisperedhersurprisetohermistressinthebackground，thathe，thestudent`whokepthisselfupsoparticular，’shouldhavesuddenlydescendedsolowastokeepcompanywithArabella。Thelatterguessedwhatwasbeingsaid，andlaughedasshemettheseriousandtendergazeofherlover-thelowandtriumphantlaughofacarelesswomanwhoseessheiswinninghergame。

Theysatandlookedroundtheroom，andatthepictureofSamsonandDelilahwhichhungonthewall，andatthecircularbeer-stainsonthetable，andatthespittoonsunderfootfilledwithsawdust。ThewholeaspectofthescenehadthatdepressingeffectonJudewhichfewplacescanproducelikeatap-roomonaSundayeveningwhenthesettingsunisslantingin，andnoliquorisgoing，andtheunfortunatewayfarerfindshimselfwithnootherhavenofrest。

Itbegantogrowdusk。Theycouldnotwaitlonger，really，forthetea，theysaid。`Yetwhatelsecanwedo？’askedJude。`Itisathree-milewalkforyou。’

`Isupposewecanhavesomebeer，’saidArabella。

`Beer，ohyes。Ihadforgottenthat。Somehowitseemsoddtocometoapublic-houseforbeeronaSundayevening。’

`Butwedidn’t。’

`No，wedidn’t。’Judebythistimewishedhewasoutofsuchanuncongenialatmosphere；butheorderedthebeer，whichwaspromptlybrought。

Arabellatastedit。`Ugh！’shesaid。

Judetasted。`What’sthematterwithit？’heasked。`Idon’tunderstandbeerverymuchnow，itistrue。Ilikeitwellenough，butitisbadtoreadon，andIfindcoffeebetter。Butthisseemsallright。’

`Adulterated-Ican’ttouchit！’Shementionedthreeorfouringredientsthatshedetectedintheliquorbeyondmaltandhops，muchtoJude’ssurprise。

`Howmuchyouknow！’hesaidgood-humouredly。

Neverthelessshereturnedtothebeeranddrankhershare，andtheywentontheirway。Itwasnownearlydark，andassoonastheyhadwithdrawnfromthelightsofthetowntheywalkedclosertogether，tilltheytouchedeachother。Shewonderedwhyhedidnotputhisarmroundherwaist，buthedidnot；hemerelysaidwhattohimselfseemedaquiteboldenoughthing：`Takemyarm。’

Shetookit，thoroughly，uptotheshoulder。Hefeltthewarmthofherbodyagainsthis，andputtinghisstickunderhisotherarmheldwithhisrighthandherrightasitrestedinitsplace。

`Nowwearewelltogether，dear，aren’twe？’heobserved。

`Yes，’saidshe；addingtoherself：`Rathermild！’

`HowfastIhavebecome！’hewasthinking。

Thustheywalkedtilltheyreachedthefootoftheupland，wheretheycouldseethewhitehighwayascendingbeforetheminthegloom。FromthispointtheonlywayofgettingtoArabella’swasbygoinguptheincline，anddippingagainintohervalleyontheright。Beforetheyhadclimbedfartheywerenearlyrunintobytwomenwhohadbeenwalkingonthegrassunseen。

`Theselovers-youfind’emouto’doorsinallseasonsandweathers-loversandhomelessdogsonly，’saidoneofthemenastheyvanisheddownthehill。

Arabellatitteredlightly。

`Arewelovers？’askedJude。

`Youknowbest。’

`Butyoucantellme？’

Foranswersheinclinedherheaduponhisshoulder。Judetookthehint，andencirclingherwaistwithhisarm，pulledhertohimandkissedher。

Theywalkednownolongerarminarmbut，asshehaddesired，claspedtogether。Afterall，whatdiditmattersinceitwasdark，saidJudetohimself。Whentheywerehalf-wayupthelonghilltheypausedasbyarrangement，andhekissedheragain。Theyreachedthetop，andhekissedheroncemore。

`Youcankeepyourarmthere，ifyouwouldliketo，’shesaidgently。

Hedidso，thinkinghowtrustingshewas。

Thustheyslowlywenttowardsherhome。Hehadlefthiscottageathalf-pastthree，intendingtobesittingdownagaintotheNewTestamentbyhalf-pastfive。Itwasnineo’clockwhen，withanotherembrace，hestoodtodeliverherupatherfather’sdoor。

Sheaskedhimtocomein，ifonlyforaminute，asitwouldseemsooddotherwise，andasifshehadbeenoutaloneinthedark。Hegaveway，andfollowedherin。Immediatelythatthedoorwasopenedhefound，inadditiontoherparents，severalneighbourssittinground。Theyallspokeinacongratulatorymanner，andtookhimseriouslyasArabella’sintendedpartner。

Theydidnotbelongtohissetorcircle，andhefeltoutofplaceandembarrassed。Hehadnotmeantthis：amereafternoonofpleasantwalkingwithArabella，thatwasallhehadmeant。Hedidnotstaylongerthantospeaktoherstepmother，asimple，quietwomanwithoutfeaturesorcharacter；

andbiddingthemallgoodnightplungedwithasenseofreliefintothetrackoverthedown。

Butthatsensewasonlytemporary：Arabellasoonre-assertedherswayinhissoul。HewalkedasifhefelthimselftobeanothermanfromtheJudeofyesterday。Whatwerehisbookstohim？whatwerehisintentions，hithertoadheredtosostrictly，astonotwastingasingleminuteoftimedaybyday？`Wasting！’Itdependedonyourpointofviewtodefinethat：

hewasjustlivingforthefirsttime：notwastinglife。Itwasbettertoloveawomanthantobeagraduate，oraparson；ay，orapope！

Whenhegotbacktothehousehisaunthadgonetobed，andageneralconsciousnessofhisneglectseemedwrittenonthefaceofallthingsconfrontinghim。Hewentupstairswithoutalight，andthediminteriorofhisroomaccostedhimwithsadinquiry。Therelayhisbookopen，justashehadleftit，andthecapitallettersonthetitle-pageregardedhimwithfixedreproachinthegreystarlight，liketheunclosedeyesofadeadman：

HKAINHDIAQHKH*****Judehadtoleaveearlynextmorningforhisusualweekofabsenceatlodgings；