第9章

Thereseemedtohim，vaguelyanddimly，somethingwronginasocialritualwhichmadenecessaryacancellingofwell-formedschemesinvolvingyearsofthoughtandlabour，offoregoingaman’soneopportunityofshowinghimselfsuperiortotheloweranimals，andofcontributinghisunitsofworktothegeneralprogressofhisgeneration，becauseofamomentarysurprisebyanewandtransitoryinstinctwhichhadnothinginitofthenatureofvice，andcouldbeonlyatthemostcalledweakness。Hewasinclinedtoinquirewhathehaddone，orshelost，forthatmatter，thathedeservedtobecaughtinaginwhichwouldcripplehim，ifnotheralso，fortherestofalifetime？Therewasperhapssomethingfortunateinthefactthattheimmediatereasonofhismarriagehadprovedtobenon-existent。Butthemarriageremained。

JudetheObscureChapter10I-xThetimearrivedforkillingthepigwhichJudeandhiswifehadfattenedintheirstyduringtheautumnmonths，andthebutcheringwastimedtotakeplaceassoonasitwaslightinthemorning，sothatJudemightgettoAlfredstonwithoutlosingmorethanaquarterofaday。

Thenighthadseemedstrangelysilent。Judelookedoutofthewindowlongbeforedawn，andperceivedthatthegroundwascoveredwithsnow-snowratherdeepfortheseason，itseemed，afewflakesstillfalling。

`I’mafraidthepig-killerwon’tbeabletocome，’hesaidtoArabella。

`Oh，he’llcome。Youmustgetupandmakethewaterhot，ifyouwantChallowtoscaldhim。ThoughIlikesingeingbest。’

`I’llgetup，’saidJude。`Ilikethewayofmyowncounty。’

Hewentdownstairs，litthefireunderthecopper，andbeganfeedingitwithbean-stalks，allthetimewithoutacandle，theblazeflingingacheerfulshineintotheroom；thoughforhimthesenseofcheerfulnesswaslessenedbythoughtsonthereasonofthatblaze-toheatwatertoscaldthebristlesfromthebodyofananimalthatasyetlived，andwhosevoicecouldbecontinuallyheardfromacornerofthegarden。Athalf-pastsix，thetimeofappointmentwiththebutcher，thewaterboiled，andJude’swifecamedownstairs。

`IsChallowcome？’sheasked。

`No。’

Theywaited，anditgrewlighter，withthedrearylightofasnowydawn。Shewentout，gazedalongtheroad，andreturningsaid，`He’snotcoming。Drunklastnight，Iexpect。Thesnowisnotenoughtohinderhim，surely！’

`Thenwemustputitoff。Itisonlythewaterboiledfornothing。

Thesnowmaybedeepinthevalley。’

`Can’tbeputoff。There’snomorevictualsforthepig。Heatethelastmixingo’barleymealyesterdaymorning。’

`Yesterdaymorning？Whathashelivedonsince？’

`Nothing。’

`What-hehasbeenstarving？’

`Yes。Wealwaysdoitthelastdayortwo，tosavebotherwiththeinnerds。Whatignorance，nottoknowthat！’

`Thataccountsforhiscryingso。Poorcreature！’

`Well-youmustdothesticking-there’snohelpforit。I’llshowyouhow。OrI’lldoitmyself-IthinkIcould。ThoughasitissuchabigpigIhadratherChallowhaddoneit。However，hisbasketo’knivesandthingshavebeenalreadysentonhere，andwecanuse’em。’

`Ofcourseyoushan’tdoit，’saidJude。`I’lldoit，sinceitmustbedone。’

Hewentouttothesty，shovelledawaythesnowforthespaceofacoupleofyardsormore，andplacedthestoolinfront，withtheknivesandropesathand。Arobinpeereddownatthepreparationsfromthenearesttree，and，notlikingthesinisterlookofthescene，flewaway，thoughhungry。BythistimeArabellahadjoinedherhusband，andJude，ropeinhand，gotintothesty，andnoosedtheaffrightedanimal，who，beginningwithasqueakofsurprise，rosetorepeatedcriesofrage。Arabellaopenedthesty-door，andtogethertheyhoistedthevictimontothestool，legsupward，andwhileJudeheldhimArabellaboundhimdown，loopingthecordoverhislegstokeephimfromstruggling。

Theanimal’snotechangeditsquality。Itwasnotnowrage，butthecryofdespair；long-drawn，slowandhopeless。

`UponmysoulIwouldsoonerhavegonewithoutthepigthanhavehadthistodo！’saidJude。`AcreatureIhavefedwithmyownhands。’

`Don’tbesuchatender-heartedfool！There’sthesticking-knife-theonewiththepoint。Nowwhateveryoudo，don’tstickuntoodeep。’

`I’llstickhimeffectually，soastomakeshortworkofit。That’sthechiefthing。’

`Youmustnot！’shecried。`Themeatmustbewellbled，andtodothathemustdieslow。Weshallloseashillingascoreifthemeatisredandbloody！Justtouchthevein，that’sall。Iwasbroughtuptoit，andIknow。Everygoodbutcherkeepsunbleedinglong。Heoughttobeeightortenminutesdying，atleast。’

`HeshallnotbehalfaminuteifIcanhelpit，howeverthemeatmaylook，’saidJudedeterminedly。Scrapingthebristlesfromthepig’supturnedthroat，ashehadseenthebutchersdo，heslitthefat；thenplungedintheknifewithallhismight。

`’Oddamnitall！’shecried，`thateverIshouldsayit！You’veover-stuckun！AndItellingyouallthetime——’

`Dobequiet，Arabella，andhavealittlepityonthecreature！’

`Holdupthepailtocatchtheblood，anddon’ttalk！’

Howeverunworkmanlikethedeed，ithadbeenmercifullydone。Thebloodflowedoutinatorrentinsteadofinthetricklingstreamshehaddesired。Thedyinganimal’scryassumeditsthirdandfinaltone，theshriekofagony；hisglazingeyesrivetingthemselvesonArabellawiththeeloquentlykeenreproachofacreaturerecognizingatlastthetreacheryofthosewhohadseemedhisonlyfriends。

`Makeunstopthat！’saidArabella。`Suchanoisewillbringsomebodyorotheruphere，andIdon’twantpeopletoknowwearedoingitourselves。’

PickinguptheknifefromthegroundwhereonJudehadflungit，sheslippeditintothegash，andslitthewindpipe。Thepigwasinstantlysilent，hisdyingbreathcomingthroughthehole`That’sbetter，’shesaid。

`Itisahatefulbusiness！’saidhe。

`Pigsmustbekilled。’

Theanimalheavedinafinalconvulsion，and，despitetherope，kickedoutwithallhislaststrength。Atablespoonfulofblackclotcameforth，thetricklingofredbloodhavingceasedforsomeseconds。

`That’sit；nowhe’llgo，’saidshe。`Artfulcreatures-theyalwayskeepbackadroplikethataslongastheycan！’

ThelastplungehadcomesounexpectedlyastomakeJudestagger，andinrecoveringhimselfhekickedoverthevesselinwhichthebloodhadbeencaught。

`There！’shecried，thoroughlyinapassion。`NowIcan’tmakeanyblackpot。There’sawaste，allthroughyou！’

Judeputthepailupright，butonlyaboutathirdofthewholesteamingliquidwasleftinit，themainpartbeingsplashedoverthesnow，andformingadismal，sordid，uglyspectacle-tothosewhosawitasotherthananordinaryobtainingofmeat。Thelipsandnostrilsoftheanimalturnedlivid，thenwhite，andthemusclesofhislimbsrelaxed。

`ThankGod！’Judesaid。`He’sdead。’

`What’sGodgottodowithsuchamessyjobasapig-killing，Ishouldliketoknow！’shesaidscornfully。`Poorfolksmustlive。’

`Iknow，Iknow，’saidhe。`Idon’tscoldyou。’

Suddenlytheybecameawareofavoiceathand。

`Welldone，youngmarriedvolk！Icouldn’thavecarrieditoutmuchbettermyself，cussmeifIcould！’Thevoice，whichwashusky，camefromthegarden-gate，andlookingupfromthesceneofslaughtertheysawtheburlyformofMr。Challowleaningoverthegate，criticallysurveyingtheirperformance。

`’Tiswellfor’eetostandthereandglane！’saidArabella。`Owingtoyourbeinglatethemeatisbloodedandhalfspoiled！’Twon’tfetchsomuchbyashillingascore！’

Challowexpressedhiscontrition。`Youshouldhavewaitedabit’

hesaid，shakinghishead，`andnothavedonethis-inthedelicatestate，too，thatyoubeinatpresent，ma’am。’Tisriskingyourselftoomuch。’

`Youneedn’tbeconcernedaboutthat，’saidArabella，laughing。

Judetoolaughed，buttherewasastrongflavourofbitternessinhisamusement。

Challowmadeupforhisneglectofthekillingbyzealinthescaldingandscraping。Judefeltdissatisfiedwithhimselfasamanatwhathehaddone，thoughawareofhislackofcommonsense，andthatthedeedwouldhaveamountedtothesamethingifcarriedoutbydeputy。Thewhitesnow，stainedwiththebloodofhisfellow-mortal，woreanillogicallooktohimasaloverofjustice，nottosayaChristian；buthecouldnotseehowthematterwastobemended。Nodoubthewas，ashiswifehadcalledhim，atender-heartedfool。

HedidnotliketheroadtoAlfredstonnow。Itstaredhimcynicallyintheface。Thewaysideobjectsremindedhimsomuchofhiscourtshipofhiswifethat，tokeepthemoutofhiseyes，hereadwheneverhecouldashewalkedtoandfromhiswork。Yethesometimesfeltthatbycaringforbookshewasnotescapingcommon-placenorgainingrareideas，everyworking-manbeingofthattastenow。Whenpassingnearthespotbythestreamonwhichhehadfirstmadeheracquaintanceheonedayheardvoicesjustashehaddoneatthatearliertime。OneofthegirlswhohadbeenArabella’scompanionswastalkingtoafriendinashed，himselfbeingthesubjectofdiscourse，possiblybecausetheyhadseenhiminthedistance。

Theywerequiteunawarethattheshed-wallsweresothinthathecouldheartheirwordsashepassed。

`Howsomever，’twasIputheruptoit！’Nothingventurenothinghave，’Isaid。IfIhadn’tshe’dnomorehavebeenhismis’essthanI。’

`’Tismybeliefsheknewtherewasnothingthematterwhenshetoldhimshewas……’

WhathadArabellabeenputuptobythiswoman，sothatheshouldmakeherhis`mis’ess，’otherwisewife？Thesuggestionwashorridlyunpleasant，anditrankledinhismindsomuchthatinsteadofenteringhisowncottagewhenhereacheditheflunghisbasketinsidethegarden-gateandpassedon，determinedtogoandseehisoldauntandgetsomesupperthere。

Thismadehisarrivalhomeratherlate。Arabellahowever，wasbusymeltingdownlardfromfatofthedeceasedpig，forshehadbeenoutonajauntallday，andsodelayedherwork。Dreadinglestwhathehadheardshouldleadhimtosaysomethingregrettabletoherhespokelittle。

ButArabellawasverytalkative，andsaidamongotherthingsthatshewantedsomemoney。Seeingthebookstickingoutofhispocketsheaddedthatheoughttoearnmore。

`Anapprentice’swagesarenotmeanttobeenoughtokeepawifeon，asarule，mydear。’

`Thenyoushouldn’thavehadone。’

`Come，Arabella！That’stoobad，whenyouknowhowitcameabout。’

`I’lldeclareaforeHeaventhatIthoughtwhatItoldyouwastrue。DoctorVilbertthoughtso。Itwasagoodjobforyouthatitwasn’tso！’

`Idon’tmeanthat，’hesaidhastily。`Imeanbeforethattime。

Iknowitwasnotyourfault；butthosewomenfriendsofyoursgaveyoubadadvice。Iftheyhadn’t，oryouhadn’ttakenit，weshouldatthismomenthavebeenfreefromabondwhich，nottomincematters，gallsbothofusdevilishly。Itmaybeverysad，butitistrue。’

`Who’sbeentellingyouaboutmyfriends？Whatadvice？Iinsistuponyoutellingme。’

`Pooh-Idrathernot。’

`Butyoushall-yououghtto。Itismeanof’eenotto！’

`Verywell。’Andhehintedgentlywhathadbeenrevealedtohim。

`ButIdon’twishtodwelluponit。Letussaynomoreaboutit。’

Herdefensivemannercollapsed。`Thatwasnothing，’shesaid，laughingcoldly。`Everywomanhasarighttodosuchasthat。Theriskishers。’

`Iquitedenyit，Bella。Shemightifnolifelongpenaltyattachedtoitfortheman，or，inhisdefault，forherself；iftheweaknessofthemomentcouldendwiththemoment，orevenwiththeyear。Butwheneffectsstretchsofarsheshouldnotgoanddothatwhichentrapsamanifheishonest，orherselfifheisotherwise。’

`WhatoughtItohavedone？’

`Givenmetime……Whydoyoufussyourselfaboutmeltingdownthatpig’sfatto-night？Pleaseputitaway！’

`ThenImustdoitto-morrowmorning。Itwon’tkeep。’

`Verywell-do。’

JudetheObscureChapter11I-xiNextmorning，whichwasSunday，sheresumedoperationsaboutteno’clock；

andtherenewedworkrecalledtheconversationwhichhadaccompanieditthenightbefore，andputherbackintothesameintractabletemper。

`That’sthestoryaboutmeinMarygreen，isit-thatIentrapped’ee？Muchofacatchyouwere，Lordsend！’AsshewarmedshesawsomeofJude’sdearancientclassicsonatablewheretheyoughtnottohavebeenlaid。`Iwon’thavethembookshereintheway！’shecriedpetulantly；

andseizingthemonebyoneshebeganthrowingthemuponthefloor。

`Leavemybooksalone！’hesaid。`Youmighthavethrownthemasideifyouhadliked，butastosoilingthemlikethat，itisdisgusting！’

IntheoperationofmakinglardArabella’shandshadbecomesmearedwiththehotgrease，andherfingersconsequentlyleftveryperceptibleimprintsonthebook-covers。Shecontinueddeliberatelytotossthebooksseverallyuponthefloor，tillJude，incensedbeyondbearing，caughtherbythearmstomakeherleaveoff。Somehow，ingoingso，heloosenedthefasteningofherhair，anditrolledaboutherears。

`Letmego！’shesaid。