第48章

`Youshouldtry，’repliedthewidow，fromthesereneheightsofasoulconsciousnotonlyofspiritualbutofsocialsuperiority。`Imakenoboastofmyawakening，butI’mnotwhatIwas。AfterCartlett’sdeathIwaspassingthechapelinthestreetnextours，andwentintoitforshelterfromashowerofrain。Ifeltaneedofsomesortofsupportundermyloss，and，as’twasrighterthangin，Itooktogoingthereregular，andfounditagreatcomfort。ButI’veleftLondonnow，youknow，andatpresentIamlivingatAlfredston，withmyfriendAnny，tobenearmyownoldcountry。I’mnotcomeheretothefairto-day。There’stobethefoundation-stoneofanewchapellaidthisafternoonbyapopularLondonpreacher，andI

droveoverwithAnny。NowImustgobacktomeether。’

ThenArabellawishedSuegood-bye，andwenton。

JudetheObscureChapter42V-viiiIntheafternoonSueandtheotherpeoplebustlingaboutKennetbridgefaircouldhearsinginginsidetheplacardedhoardingfartherdownthestreet。

Thosewhopeepedthroughtheopeningsawacrowdofpersonsinbroadcloth，withhymn-booksintheirhands，standingroundtheexcavationsforthenewchapel-walls。ArabellaCartlettandherweedsstoodamongthem。Shehadaclear，powerfulvoice，whichcouldbedistinctlyheardwiththerest，risingandfallingtothetune，herinflatedbosombeingalsoseendoinglikewise。

ItwastwohourslateronthesamedaythatAnnyandMrs。Cartlett，havinghadteaattheTemperanceHotel，startedontheirreturnjourneyacrossthehighandopencountrywhichstretchesbetweenKennetbridgeandAlfredston。Arabellawasinathoughtfulmood；butherthoughtswerenotofthenewchapel，asAnnyatfirstsurmised。

`No-itissomethingelse，’atlastsaidArabellasullenly。`I

camehereto-dayneverthinkingofanybodybutpoorCartlett，orofanythingbutspreadingtheGospelbymeansofthisnewtabernaclethey’vebegunthisafternoon。Butsomethinghashappenedtoturnmymindanotherwayquite。Anny，I’veheardofunagain，andI’veseenher！’

`Who？’

`I’veheardofJude，andI’veseenhiswife。Andeversince，dowhatIwill，andthoughIsungthehymnswi’allmystrength，Ihavenotbeenabletohelpthinkingabout’n；whichI’venorighttodoasachapelmember。’

`Can’tyefixyourminduponwhatwassaidbytheLondonpreacherto-day，andtrytogetridofyourwanderingfanciesthatway？’

`Ido。Butmywickedheartwillrambleoffinspiteofmyself！’

`Well-Iknowwhatitistohaveawantonmindo’myown，too！

Ifyouon’yknewwhatIdodreamsometimeso’nightsquiteagainstmywishes，you’dsayIhadmystruggles！’(Anny，too，hadgrownratherseriousoflate，herloverhavingjiltedher。)

`WhatshallIdoaboutit？’urgedArabellamorbidly。

`Youcouldtakealockofyourlate-losthusband’shair，andhaveitmadeintoamourningbrooch，andlookatiteveryhouroftheday。’

`Ihaven’tamorsel！-andifIhad’twouldbenogood……Afterallthat’ssaidaboutthecomfortsofthisreligion，IwishIhadJudebackagain！’

`Youmustfightvaliantagainstthefeeling，sincehe’sanother’s。

AndI’veheardthatanothergoodthingforit，whenitafflictsvolupshiouswidows，istogotoyourhusband’sgraveintheduskofevening，andstandalongwhilea-boweddown。’

`Pooh！IknowaswellasyouwhatIshoulddo；onlyIdon’tdoit！’

TheydroveinsilencealongthestraightroadtilltheywerewithinthehorizonofMarygreen，whichlaynotfartotheleftoftheirroute。

Theycametothejunctionofthehighwayandthecross-laneleadingtothatvillage，whosechurch-towercouldbeseenathwartthehollow。Whentheygotyetfartheron，andwerepassingthelonelyhouseinwhichArabellaandJudehadlivedduringthefirstmonthsoftheirmarriage，andwherethepig-killinghadtakenplace，shecouldcontrolherselfnolonger。

`He’smoreminethanhers！’sheburstout。`Whatrighthasshetohim，Ishouldliketoknow！I’dtakehimfromherifIcould！’

`Fie，Abby！Andyourhusbandonlysixweeksgone！Prayagainstit！’

`BedamnedifIdo！Feelingsar