第47章

Theimpendingsaleofthesebirdshadbeenthemosttryingsuspenseofthewholeafternoon。TheywereSue’spets，andwhenitwasfoundthattheycouldnotpossiblybekept，moresadnesswascausedthanbypartingfromallthefurniture。Suetriedtothinkawayhertearsassheheardthetriflingsumthatherdearsweredeemedtobeworthadvancedbysmallstagestothepriceatwhichtheywerefinallyknockeddown。Thepurchaserwasaneighbouringpoulterer，andtheywereunquestionablydoomedtodiebeforethenextmarketday。

NotingherdissembleddistressJudekissedher，andsaiditwastimetogoandseeifthelodgingswereready。Hewouldgoonwiththeboy，andfetchhersoon。

Whenshewasleftaloneshewaitedpatiently，butJudedidnotcomeback。Atlastshestarted，thecoastbeingclear，andonpassingthepoulterer’sshop，notfaroff，shesawherpigeonsinahamperbythedoor。

Anemotionatsightofthem，assistedbythegrowingduskofevening，causedhertoactonimpulse，andfirstlookingaroundherquickly，shepulledoutthepegwhichfasteneddownthecover，andwenton。Thecoverwasliftedfromwithin，andthepigeonsflewawaywithaclatterthatbroughtthechagrinedpoulterercursingandswearingtothedoor。

Suereachedthelodgingtrembling，andfoundJudeandtheboymakingitcomfortableforher。`Dothebuyerspaybeforetheybringawaythethings？’sheaskedbreathlessly。

`Yes，Ithink。Why？’

`Because，then，I’vedonesuchawickedthing！’Andsheexplained，inbittercontrition。

`Ishallhavetopaythepoultererforthem，ifhedoesn’tcatchthem，’saidJude。`Butnevermind。Don’tfretaboutit，dear。’

`Itwassofoolishofme！OhwhyshouldNature’slawbemutualbutchery！’

`Isitso，Mother？’askedtheboyintently。

`Yes！’saidSuevehemently。

`Well，theymusttaketheirchance，now，poorthings，’saidJude。

`Assoonasthesale-accountiswoundup，andourbillspaid，wego。’

`Wheredowegoto？’askedTime，insuspense。

`Wemustsailundersealedorders，thatnobodymaytraceus……

Wemustn’tgotoAlfredston，ortoMelchester，ortoShaston，ortoChristminster。

Apartfromthosewemaygoanywhere。’

`Whymustn’twegothere，Father？’

`Becauseofacloudthathasgatheredoverus；though`wehavewrongednoman，corruptednoman，defraudednoman！’Thoughperhapswehave`donethatwhichwasrightinourowneyes。’’

JudetheObscureChapter41V-viiFromthatweekJudeFawleyandSuewalkednomoreinthetownofAldbrickham。

Whithertheyhadgonenobodyknew，chieflybecausenobodycaredtoknow。Anyonesufficientlycurioustotracethestepsofsuchanobscurepairmighthavediscoveredwithoutgreattroublethattheyhadtakenadvantageofhisadaptivecraftsmanshiptoenteronashifting，almostnomadic，life，whichwasnotwithoutitspleasantnessforatime。

WhereverJudeheardoffree-stoneworktobedone，thitherhewent，choosingbypreferenceplacesremotefromhisoldhauntsandSue’s。

Helabouredatajob，longorbriefly，tillitwasfinished；andthenmovedon。

Twowholeyearsandahalfpassedthus。Sometimeshemighthavebeenfoundshapingthemullionsofacountrymansion，sometimessettingtheparapetofatown-hall，sometimesashlaringanhotelatSandbourne，sometimesamuseumatCasterbridge，sometimesasfardownasExonbury，sometimesatStoke-Barehills。LaterstillhewasatKennetbridge，athrivingtownnotmorethanadozenmilessouthofMarygreen，thisbeinghisnearestapproachtothevillagewherehewasknown；forhehadasensitivedreadofbeingquestionedastohislifeandfortunesbythosewhohadbeenacquaintedwithhimduringhisardentyoungmanhoodofstudyandpromise，andhisbriefandunhappymarriedlifeatthattime。

Atsomeoftheseplaceshewouldbedetainedformonths，atothersonlyafewweeks。Hiscuriousandsuddenantipathytoecclesiasticalwork，bothepiscopalandnoncomformist，whichhadri