第7章

anditwaswithasenseoffutilitythathethrewintohisbasketuponhistoolsandothernecessariestheunreadbookhehadbroughtwithhim。

Hekepthisimpassioneddoingsasecretalmostfromhimself。Arabella，onthecontrary，madethempublicamongallherfriendsandacquaintance。

Retracingbythelightofdawntheroadhehadfollowedafewhoursearlierundercoverofdarkness，withhissweetheartbyhisside，hereachedthebottomofthehill，wherehewalkedslowly，andstoodstill。

Hewasonthespotwherehehadgivenherthefirstkiss。Asthesunhadonlyjustrisenitwaspossiblethatnobodyhadpassedtheresince。Judelookedonthegroundandsighed。Helookedclosely，andcouldjustdiscerninthedampdusttheimprintsoftheirfeetastheyhadstoodlockedineachother’sarms。Shewasnottherenow，and`theembroideryofimaginationuponthestuffofnature’sodepictedherpastpresencethatavoidwasinhisheartwhichnothingcouldfill。Apollardwillowstoodclosetotheplace，andthatwillowwasdifferentfromallotherwillowsintheworld。Utterannihilationofthesixdayswhichmustelapsebeforehecouldseeheragainashehadpromisedwouldhavebeenhisintensestwishifhehadhadonlytheweektolive。

AnhourandahalflaterArabellacamealongthesamewaywithhertwocompanionsoftheSaturday。Shepassedunheedinglythesceneofthekiss，andthewillowthatmarkedit，thoughchatteringfreelyonthesubjecttotheothertwo。

`Andwhatdidhetell’eenext？’

`Thenhesaid-`Andsherelatedalmostwordforwordsomeofhistenderestspeeches。IfJudehadbeenbehindthefencehewouldhavefeltnotalittlesurprisedatlearninghowveryfewofhissayingsanddoingsonthepreviouseveningwereprivate。

`You’vegothimtocarefor’eeabit，’nationifyouhan’t！’

murmuredAnnyjudicially。`It’swelltobeyou！’

InafewmomentsArabellarepliedinacuriouslylow，hungrytoneoflatentsensuousness：`I’vegothimtocareforme：yes！ButIwanthimtomorethancareforme；Iwanthimtohaveme-tomarryme！Imusthavehim。Ican’tdowithouthim。He’sthesortofmanIlongfor。IshallgomadifIcan’tgivemyselftohimaltogether！IfeltIshouldwhenIfirstsawhim！’

`Asheisaromancing，straightfor’ard，honestchap，he’stobehad，andasahusband，ifyousetaboutcatchinghimintherightway。’

Arabellaremainedthinkingawhile。`Whatmedbetherightway？’

sheasked。

`Ohyoudon’tknow-youdon’t！’saidSarah，thethirdgirl。

`OnmywordIdon’t！-Nofurther，thatis，thanbyplaincourting，andtakingcarehedon’tgotoofar！’

Thethirdgirllookedatthesecond。`Shedon’tknow！’

`’Tisclearshedon’t！’saidAnny。

`Andhavinglivedinatown，too，asonemaysay！Well，wecanteach’eesom’atthen，aswellasyouus。’

`Yes。Andhowdoyoumean-asurewaytogainaman？Takemeforaninnocent，andhavedonewi’it！’

`Asahusband。’

`Asahusband。’

`Acountrymanthat’shonourableandserious-mindedsuchashe；

GodforbidthatIshouldsayasojer，orsailor，orcommercialgentfromthetowns，oranyofthemthatbeslipperywithpoorwomen！I’ddonofriendthatharm！’

`Well，suchashe，ofcourse！’

Arabella’scompanionslookedateachother，andturninguptheireyesindrollerybegansmirking。ThenonewentupclosetoArabella，and，althoughnobodywasnear，impartedsomeinformationinalowtone，theotherobservingcuriouslytheeffectuponArabella。

`Ah！’saidthelast-namedslowly。`IownIdidn’tthinkofthatway！……Butsupposeheisn’thonourable？Awomanhadbetternothavetriedit！’

`Nothingventurenothinghave！Besides，youmakesurethathe’shonourablebeforeyoubegin。You’dbesafeenoughwithyours。IwishI

hadthechance！Lotsofgirlsdoit；ordoyouthinkthey’dgetmarriedatall？’

Arabellapursuedherwayinsilentthought。`I’lltryit！’shewhispered；butnottothem。

FootnoteIntheprintedbookthisisGreek：eta，kappa，alpha，iota，nu，eta，delta，iota，alpha，theta，eta，kappa，etaJudetheObscureChapter08I-viiiOneweek’sendJudewasasusualwalkingouttohisaunt’satMarygreenfromhislodginginAlfredston，awalkwhichnowhadlargeattractionsforhimquiteotherthanhisdesiretoseehisagedandmoroserelative。

Hedivergedtotherightbeforeascendingthehillwiththesinglepurposeofgaining，onhisway，aglimpseofArabellathatshouldnotcomeintothereckoningofregularappointments。Beforequitereachingthehomesteadhisalerteyeperceivedthetopofherheadmovingquicklyhitherandthitheroverthegardenhedge。Enteringthegatehefoundthatthreeyoungunfattenedpigshadescapedfromtheirstybyleapingcleanoverthetop，andthatshewasendeavouringunassistedtodrivetheminthroughthedoorwhichshehadsetopen。ThelinesofhercountenancechangedfromtherigidityofbusinesstothesoftnessoflovewhenshesawJude，andshebenthereyeslanguishinglyuponhim。Theanimalstookavantageofthepausebydoublingandboltingoutoftheway。

`Theywereonlyputinthismorning！’shecried，stimulatedtopursueinspiteofherlover’spresence。TheyweredrovefromSpaddleholtFarmonlyyesterday，whereFatherbought’ematastiffpriceenough。Theyarewantingtogethomeagain，thestupidtoads！Willyoushutthegardengate，dear，andhelpmetoget’emin。Therearenomenfolkathome，onlyMother，andthey’llbelostifwedon’tmind。’

Hesethimselftoassist，anddodgedthiswayandthatoverthepotatorowsandthecabbages。Everynowandthentheyrantogether，whenhecaughtherforamomentankissedher。Thefirstpigwasgotbackpromptly；

thesecondwithsomedifficulty；thethirdalong-leggedcreature，wasmoreobstinateandagile。Heplungedthroughaholeinthegardenhedge，andintothelane。

`He’llbelostifIdon’tfollow’n！’saidshe。`Comealongwithme！’

Sherushedinfullpursuitoutofthegarden，Judealongsideher，barelycontrivingtokeepthefugitiveinsight。Occasionallytheywouldshouttosomeboytostoptheanimal，buthealwayswriggledpastandranonasbefore。

`Letmetakeyourhand，darling，’saidJude。`Youaregettingoutofbreath。’Shegavehimhernowhothandwithapparentwillingness，andtheytrottedalongtogether。

`Thiscomesofdriving’emhome，’sheremarked。`Theyalwaysknowthewaybackifyoudothat。Theyoughttohavebeencartedover。’

Bythistimethepighadreachedanunfastenedgateadmittingtotheopendown，acrosswhichhespedwithalltheagilityhislittlelegsafforded。Assoonasthepursuershadenteredandascendedtothetopofthehighgrounditbecameapparentthattheywouldhavetorunallthewaytothefarmer’siftheywishedtogetathim。Fromthissummithecouldbeseenasaminutespeck，followinganunerringlinetowardshisoldhome。

`Itisnogood！’criedArabella。`He’llbetherelongbeforewegetthere。Itdon’tmatternowweknowhe’snotlostorstolenontheway。

They’llseeitisours，andsendunback。Ohdear，howhotIbe！’

WithoutrelinquishingherholdofJude’shandsheswervedasideandflungherselfdownonthesodunderastuntedthorn，precipitatelypullingJudeontohiskneesatthesametime。

`Oh，Iaskpardon-Inearlythrewyoudown，didn’tI！ButIamsotired！’

Shelaysupine，andstraightasanarrow，ontheslopingsodofthishill-top，gazingupintothebluemilesofsky，andstillretainingherwarmholdofJude’shand。Hereclinedonhiselbownearher。

`We’verunallthiswayfornothing，’shewenton，herformheavingandfallinginquickpants，herfaceflushed，herfullredlipsparted，andafinedewofperspirationonherskin。`Well-whydon’tyouspeak，deary？’

`I’mblowntoo。Itwasalluphill。’

Theywereinabsolutesolitude-themostapparentofallsolitudes，thatofemptysurroundingspace。Nobodycouldbenearerthanamiletothemwithouttheirseeinghim。Theywere，infact，ononeofthesummitsofthecounty，andthedistantlandscapearoundChristminstercouldbediscernedfromwheretheylay。ButJudedidnotthinkofthatthen。

`Oh，Icanseesuchaprettythingupthistree，’saidArabella。

`Asortofa-caterpillar，ofthemostloveliestgreenandyellowyouevercameacross！’

`Where？’saidJude，sittingup。

`Youcan’tseehimthere-youmustcomehere，’saidshe。

Hebentnearerandputhisheadinfrontofhers。`No-Ican’tseeit，’hesaid。

`Why，onthelimbtherewhereitbranchesoff-closetothemovingleaf-there！’Shegentlypulledhimdownbesideher。

`Idon’tseeit，’herepeated，thebackofhisheadagainsthercheek。`ButIcan，perhaps，standingup。’Hestoodaccordingly，placinghimselfinthedirectlineofhergaze。

`Howstupidyouare！’shesaidcrossly，turningawayherface。

`Idon’tcaretoseeit，dear：whyshouldI？’herepliedlookingdownuponher。`Getup，Abby。’

`Why？’

`Iwantyoutoletmekissyou。I’vebeenwaitingtoeversolong！’

Sherolledroundherface，remainedamomentlookingdeedilyaslantathim；thenwithaslightcurlofthelipsprangtoherfeet，andexclaimingabruptly`Imustmizzle！’walkedoffquicklyhomeward。Judefollowedandrejoinedher。

`Justone！’hecoaxed`Shan’t！’shesaidHe，surprised：`What’sthematter？’

Shekepthertwolipsresentfullytogether，andJudefollowedherlikeapetlambtillsheslackenedherpaceandwalkedbesidehim，talkingcalmlyonindifferentsubjects，andalwayscheckinghimifhetriedtotakeherhandorclaspherwaist。Thustheydescendedtotheprecinctsofherfather’shomestead，andArabellawentin，noddinggood-byetohimwithasupercilious，affrontedair。

`IexpectItooktoomuchlibertywithher，somehow，’Judesaidtohimself，ashewithdrewwithasighandwentontoMarygreen。

OnSundaymorningtheinteriorofArabella’shomewas，asusual，thesceneofagrandweeklycooking，thepreparationofthespecialSundaydinner。Herfatherwasshavingbeforealittleglasshungonthemullionofthewindow，andhermotherandArabellaherselfwereshellingbeanshardby。Aneighbourpassedonherwayhomefrommorningserviceatthenearestchurch，andseeingDonnengagedatthewindowwiththerazor，noddedandcamein。

SheatoncespokeplayfullytoArabella：`Izeed’eerunningwith’un-hee-hee！Ihope’tiscomingtosomething？’

Arabellamerelythrewalookofconsciousnessintoherfacewithoutraisinghereyes。

`He’sforChristminster，Ihear，assoonashecangetthere。’

`Haveyouheardthatlately-quitelately？’askedArabellawithajealous，tigerishindrawingofbreath。

`Ohno！Butithasbeenknownalongtimethatitishisplan。

He’son’ywaitinghereforanopening。Ahwell：hemustwalkaboutwithsomebody，Is’pose。Youngmendon’tmeanmuchnow-a-days。’Tisasiphereandasiptherewith’em。’Twasdifferentinmytime。’

WhenthegossiphaddepartedArabellasaidsuddenlytohermother：

`IwantyouandFathertogoandinquirehowtheEdlinsbe，thiseveningaftertea。Orno-there’seveningserviceatFensworth-youcanwalktothat。’

`Oh？What’supto-night，then？’

`Nothing。OnlyIwantthehousetomyself。He’sshy；andIcan’tgetuntocomeinwhenyouarehere。IshalllethimslipthroughmyfingersifIdon’tmind，muchasIcarefor’n！’

`Ifitisfinewemedaswellgo，sinceyouwish。’

IntheafternoonArabellametandwalkedwithJude，whohadnowforweeksceasedtolookintoabookofGreek，Latin，oranyothertongue。

Theywandereduptheslopestilltheyreachedthegreentrackalongtheridge，whichtheyfollowedtothecircularBritishearth-bankadjoining，Judethinkingofthegreatageofthetrackway，andofthedroverswhohadfrequentedit，probablybeforetheRomansknewthecountry。Upfromthelevellandsbelowthemfloatedthechimeofchurchbells。Presentlytheywerereducedtoonenote，whichquickened，andstopped。

`Nowwe’llgoback，’saidArabella，whohadattendedtothesounds。

Judeassented。Solongashewasnearherhemindedlittlewherehewas。Whentheyarrivedatherhousehesaidlingeringly：`Iwon’tcomein。Whyareyouinsuchahurrytogointo-night？Itisnotneardark。’

`Waitamoment，’saidshe。Shetriedthehandleofthedoorandfounditlocked。

`Ah-theyaregonetochurch，’sheadded。Andsearchingbehindthescrapershefoundthekeyandunlockedthedoor。`Now，you’llcomeinamoment？’sheaskedlightly。`Weshallbeallalone。’

`Certainly，’saidJudewithalacrity，thecasebeingunexpectedlyaltered。

Indoorstheywent。Didhewantanytea？No，itwastoolate：hewouldrathersitandtalktoher。Shetookoffherjacketandhat，andtheysatdown-naturallyenoughclosetogether。

`Don’ttouchme，please，’shesaidsoftly。`Iampartegg-shell。

OrperhapsIhadbetterputitinasafeplace。’Shebeganunfasteningthecollarofhergown。

`Whatisit？’saidherlover。

`Anegg-acochin’segg。Iamhatchingaveryraresort。Icarryitabouteverywherewithme，anditwillgethatchedinlessthanthreeweeks。’

`Wheredoyoucarryit？’

`Justhere。’Sheputherhandintoherbosomanddrewouttheegg，whichwaswrappedinwool，outsideitbeingapieceofpig’sbladder，incaseofaccidents。Havingexhibitedittohimsheputitback，`Nowmindyoudon’tcomenearme。Idon’twanttogetitbroke，andhavetobeginanother。’

`Whydoyoudosuchastrangething？’

`It’sanoldcustom。Isupposeitisnaturalforawomantowanttobringlivethingsintotheworld。’

`Itisveryawkwardformejustnow，’hesaid，laughing。

`Itservesyouright。There-that’sallyoucanhaveofme’

Shehadturnedroundherchair，and，reachingoverthebackofit，presentedhercheektohimgingerly。

`That’sveryshabbyofyou！’

`YoushouldhavecatchedmeaminuteagowhenIhadputtheeggdown！There！’shesaiddefiantly，`Iamwithoutitnow！’Shehadquicklywithdrawntheeggasecondtime；butbeforehecouldquitereachhershehadputitbackasquickly，laughingwiththeexcitementofherstrategy。

Thentherewasalittlestruggle，Judemakingaplungeforitandcapturingittriumphantly。Herfaceflushed；andbecomingsuddenlyconsciousheflushedalso。

Theylookedateachother，panting；tillheroseandsaid：`Onekiss，nowIcandoitwithoutdamagetoproperty；andI’llgo！’

Butshehadjumpeduptoo。`Youmustfindmefirst！’shecried。

Herloverfollowedherasshewithdrew。Itwasnowdarkinsidetheroom，andthewindowbeingsmallhecouldnotdiscoverforalongtimewhathadbecomeofher，tillalaughrevealedhertohaverushedupthestairs，whitherJuderushedatherheels。