第21章

Judewaited，knowingthatshecouldentereasilyenough，thefrontdoorbeingopenedmerelybyaknobwhichanybodycouldturn，asinmostoldcountrytowns。Hepalpitatedatthethoughtthatshehadfledtohiminhertroubleashehadfledtoherinhis。Whatcounterpartstheywere！

Heunlatchedthedoorofhisroom，heardastealthyrustleonthedarkstairs，andinamomentsheappearedinthelightofhislamp。Hewentuptoseizeherhand，andfoundshewasclammyasamarinedeity，andthatherclothesclungtoherliketherobesuponthefiguresintheParthenonfrieze。

`I’msocold！’shesaidthroughherchatteringteeth。`CanIcomebyyourfire，Jude？’

Shecrossedtohislittlegrateandverylittlefire，butasthewaterdrippedfromherasshemoved，theideaofdryingherselfwasabsurd。

`Whateverhaveyoudone，darling？’heasked，withalarm，thetenderepithetslippingoutunawares。

`Walkedthroughthelargestriverinthecounty-that’swhatI’vedone！Theylockedmeupforbeingoutwithyou；anditseemedsounjustthatIcouldn’tbearit，soIgotoutofthewindowandescapedacrossthestream！’Shehadbeguntheexplanationinherusualslightlyindependenttones，butbeforeshehadfinishedthethinpinklipstrembled，andshecouldhardlyrefrainfromcrying。

`DearSue！’hesaid。`Youmusttakeoffallyourthings！Andletmesee-youmustborrowsomefromthelandlady。I’llaskher。’

`No，no！Don’tletherknow，forGod’ssake！Wearesoneartheschoolthatthey’llcomeafterme！’

`Thenyoumustputonmine。Youdon’tmind？’

`Ohno。’

`MySundaysuit，youknow。Itisclosehere。’Infact，everythingwascloseandhandyinJude’ssinglechamber，becausetherewasnotroomforittobeotherwise。Heopenedadrawer，tookouthisbestdarksuit，andgivingthegarmentsashake，said，`Now，howlongshallIgiveyou？’

`Tenminutes。’

Judelefttheroomandwentintothestreet，wherehewalkedupanddown。Aclockstruckhalf-pastseven，andhereturned。Sittinginhisonlyarm-chairhesawaslimandfragilebeingmasqueradingashimselfonaSunday，sopatheticinherdefencelessnessthathisheartfeltbigwiththesenseofit。Ontwootherchairsbeforethefirewereherwetgarments。Sheblushedashesatdownbesideher，butonlyforamoment。

`Isuppose，Jude，itisoddthatyoushouldseemelikethisandallmythingshangingthere？Yetwhatnonsense！Theyareonlyawoman’sclothes-sexlessclothandlinen……IwishIdidn’tfeelsoillandsick！

Willyoudrymyclothesnow？Pleasedo，Jude，andI’llgetalodgingbyandby。Itisnotlateyet。’

`No，youshan’t，ifyouareill。Youmuststayhere。Dear，dearSue，whatcanIgetforyou？’

`Idon’tknow！Ican’thelpshivering。IwishIcouldgetwarm。’

Judeputonherhisgreat-coatinaddition，andthenranouttothenearestpublic-house，whencehereturnedwithalittlebottleinhishand。`Here’ssixofbestbrandy，’hesaid。`Nowyoudrinkit，dear；allofit。’

`Ican’toutofthebottle，canI？’Judefetchedtheglassfromthedressing-table，andadministeredthespiritinsomewater。Shegaspedalittle，butgulpeditdown，andlaybackinthearmchair。

Shethenbegantorelatecircumstantiallyherexperiencessincetheyhadparted；butinthemiddleofherstoryhervoicefaltered，herheadnodded，andsheceased。Shewasinasoundsleep。Jude，dyingofanxietylestsheshouldhavecaughtachillwhichmightpermanentlyinjureher，wasgladtoheartheregularbreathing。Hesoftlywentnearertoher，andobservedthatawarmflushnowrosedherhithertobluecheeks，andfeltthatherhanginghandwasnolongercold。Thenhestoodwithhisbacktothefireregardingher，andsawinheralmostadivinity。

JudetheObscureChapter22III-ivJude’sreveriewasinterruptedbythecreakoffootstepsascendingthestairs。

HewhiskedSue’sclothingfromthechairwhereitwasdrying，thrustitunderthebed，andsatdowntohisbook。Somebodyknockedandopenedthedoorimmediately。Itwa