第29章

Henowreturnedwithfeverishdesperationtohisstudyforthepriesthood-intherecognitionthatthesingle-mindednessofhisaims，andhisfidelitytothecause，hadbeenmorethanquestionableoflate。

HispassionforSuetroubledhissoul；yethislawfulabandonmenttothesocietyofArabellafortwelvehoursseemedinstinctivelyaworsething-eventhoughshehadnottoldhimofherSydneyhusbandtillafterwards。

Hehad，heverilybelieved，overcomealltendencytoflytoliquor-which，indeed，hehadneverdonefromtaste，butmerelyasanescapefromintolerablemiseryofmind。Yetheperceivedwithdespondencythat，takenallround，hewasamanoftoomanypassionstomakeagoodclergyman；theutmosthecouldhopeforwasthatinalifeofconstantinternalwarfarebetweenfleshandspirittheformermightnotalwaysbevictorious。

Asahobby，auxiliarytohisreadingsinDivinity，hedevelopedhisslightskillinchurch-musicandthorough-bass，tillhecouldjoininpart-singingfromnotationwithsomeaccuracy。AmileortwofromMelchestertherewasarestoredvillagechurch，towhichJudehadoriginallygonetofixthenewcolumnsandcapitals。Bythismeanshehadbecomeacquaintedwiththeorganist，andtheultimateresultwasthathejoinedthechoirasabassvoice。

HewalkedouttothisparishtwiceeverySunday，andsometimesintheweek。OneeveningaboutEasterthechoirmetforpractice，andanewhymnwhichJudehadheardofasbeingbyaWessexcomposerwastobetriedandpreparedforthefollowingweek。Itturnedouttobeastrangelyemotionalcomposition。AstheyallsangitoverandoveragainitsharmoniesgrewuponJude，andmovedhimexceedingly。

Whentheyhadfinishedhewentroundtotheorganisttomakeinquiries。

Thescorewasinmanuscript，thenameofthecomposerbeingatthehead，togetherwiththetitleofthehymn：`TheFootoftheCross。’

`Yes，’saidtheorganist。`Heisalocalman。HeisaprofessionalmusicianatKennetbridge-betweenhereandChristminster。Thevicarknowshim。HewasbroughtupandeducatedinChristminstertraditions，whichaccountsforthequalityofthepiece。Ithinkheplaysinthelargechurchthere，andhasasurplicedchoir。HecomestoMelchestersometimes，andoncetriedtogetthecathedralorganwhenthepostwasvacant。ThehymnisgettingabouteverywherethisEaster。’

Ashewalkedhummingtheaironhiswayhome，Judefelltomusingonitscomposer，andthereasonswhyhecomposedit。Whatamanofsympathieshemustbe！PerplexedandharassedashehimselfwasaboutSueandArabella，andtroubledaswashisconsciencebythecomplicationofhisposition，howhewouldliketoknowthatman！’Heofallmenwouldunderstandmydifficulties，’saidtheimpulsiveJude。Iftherewereanypersonintheworldtochooseasaconfidant，thiscomposerwouldbetheone，forhemusthavesuffered，andthrobbed，andyearned。

Inbrief，illashecouldaffordthetimeandmoneyforthejourney，Fawleyresolved，likethechildthathewas，togotoKennetbridgetheverynextSunday。Hedulystarted，earlyinthemorning，foritwasonlybyaseriesofcrookedrailwaysthathecouldgettothetown。Aboutmid-dayhereachedit，andcrossingthebridgeintothequaintoldboroughheinquiredforthehouseofthecomposer。

Theytoldhimitwasaredbrickbuildingsomelittlewayfurtheron。Alsothatthegentlemanhimselfhadjustpassedalongthestreetnotfiveminutesbefore。

`Whichway？’askedJudewithalacrity。

`Straightalonghomewardfromchurch。’

Judehastenedon，andsoonhadthepleasureofobservingamaninablackcoatandablackslouchedfelthatnoconsiderabledistanceahead。Stretchingouthislegsyetmorewidelyhestalkedafter。`Ahungrysoulinpursuitofafullsoul！’hesaid。`Imustspeaktothatman！’

Hecouldnot，however，overtakethemusicianbeforehehadenteredhisownhouse，andthenarosethequestionifthiswereanexpedienttimetocall。Whetherornothedecidedtodosothereandthen，nowthathehadgothere，thedistancehomebeingtoogreatforhimtowaittilllateintheafternoon。Thismanofsoulwouldunderstandscantceremony，andmightbequiteaperfectadviserinacaseinwhichanearthlyandillegitimatepa