第45章

`Sillyfools-liketwochildren！’Arabellawhisperedtoherselfmorosely，assherejoinedhercompanions，withwhomshepreservedapreoccupiedsilence。

AnnymeanwhilehadjokinglyremarkedtoVilbertonArabella’shankeringinterestinherfirsthusband。

`Now，’saidthephysiciantoArabella，apart；`doyouwantanythingsuchasthis，Mrs。Cartlett？Itisnotcompoundedoutofmyregularpharmacopoeia，butIamsometimesaskedforsuchathing。’Heproducedasmallphialofclearliquid。`Alove-philtre，suchaswasusedbytheancientswithgreateffect。Ifounditoutbystudyoftheirwritings，andhaveneverknownittofail。’

`Whatisitmadeof？’askedArabellacuriously。

`Well-adistillationofthejuicesofdoves’hearts-otherwisepigeons’-isoneoftheingredients。Ittooknearlyahundredheartstoproducethatsmallbottlefull。’

`Howdoyougetpigeonsenough？’

`Totellasecret，Igetapieceofrock-salt，ofwhichpigeonsareinordinatelyfond，andplaceitinadovecotonmyroof。Inafewhoursthebirdscometoitfromallpointsofthecompass-east，west，north，andsouth-andthusIsecureasmanyasIrequire。Youusetheliquidbycontrivingthatthedesiredmanshalltakeabouttendropsofitinhisdrink。Butremember，allthisistoldyoubecauseIgatherfromyourquestionsthatyoumeantobeapurchaser。Youmustkeepfaithwithme？’

`Verywell-Idon’tmindabottle-togivesomefriendorothertotryitonheryoungman。’Sheproducedfiveshillings，thepriceasked，andslippedthephialinhercapaciousbosom。Sayingpresentlythatshewasdueatanappointmentwithherhusbandshesaunteredawaytowardstherefreshmentbar，Jude，hiscompanion，andthechildhavinggoneontothehorticulturaltent，whereArabellacaughtaglimpseofthemstandingbeforeagroupofrosesinbloom。

Shewaitedafewminutesobservingthem，andthenproceededtojoinherspousewithnoveryamiablesentiments。Shefoundhimseatedonastoolbythebar，talkingtooneofthegailydressedmaidswhohadservedhimwithspirits。

`Ishouldthinkyouhadenoughofthisbusinessathome！’Arabellaremarkedgloomily。`Surelyyoudidn’tcomefiftymilesfromyourownbartostickinanother？Come，takemeroundtheshow，asothermendotheirwives！Dammy，onewouldthinkyouwereayoungbachelor，withnobodytolookafterbutyourself！’

`Butweagreedtomeethere；andwhatcouldIdobutwait？’

`Well，nowwehavemet，comealong，’shereturned，readytoquarrelwiththesunforshiningonher。Andtheyleftthetenttogether，thispot-belliedmanandfloridwoman，intheantipathetic，recriminatorymoodoftheaveragehusbandandwifeofChristendom。

Inthemeantimethemoreexceptionalcoupleandtheboystilllingeredinthepavilionofflowers-anenchantedpalacetotheirappreciativetaste-Sue’susuallypalecheeksreflectingthepinkofthetintedrosesatwhichshegazed；forthegaysights，theair，themusic，andtheexcitementofaday’soutingwithJudehadquickenedherbloodandmadehereyessparklewithvivacity。Sheadoredroses，andwhatArabellahadwitnessedwasSuedetainingJudealmostagainsthiswillwhileshelearntthenamesofthisvarietyandthat，andputherfacewithinaninchoftheirbloomstosmellthem。

`Ishouldliketopushmyfacequiteintothem-thedears！’shehadsaid。`ButIsupposeitisagainsttherulestotouchthem-isn’tit，Jude？’

`Yes，youbaby，’saidhe：andthenplayfullygaveheralittlepush，sothathernosewentamongthepetals。

`Thepolicemanwillbedownonus，andIshallsayitwasmyhusband’sfault！’

Thenshelookedupathim，andsmiledinawaythattoldsomuchtoArabella。

`Happy？’hemurmured。

Shenodded。

`Why？BecauseyouhavecometothegreatWessexAgriculturalShow-orbecausewehavecome？’

`Youarealwaystryingtomakemeconfesstoallsortsofabsurdities。

BecauseIamimprovingmymind，ofcourse，byseeingallthesesteam-ploughs，andthreshing-machines，andchaff-cutters，andcows，andpigs，andsheep。’

Judewasquitecontentwithabafflefromhiseverevasivecompanion。

Butwhenhehadforgottenthathehadputthequestion，andbecausehenolongerwishedforananswer，shewenton：`IfeelthatwehavereturnedtoGreekjoyousness，andhaveblindedourselvestosicknessand