第50章

`Letusgoon，dear，’shewhispered，endeavouringtoshelterhim。

`Wehaven’tanylodgingsyet，remember，andallourthingsareatthestation；

andyouarebynomeanswellyet。Iamafraidthiswetwillhurtyou！’

`Theyarecomingnow。Justamoment，andI’llgo！’saidhe。

Apealofsixbellsstruckout，humanfacesbegantocrowdthewindowsaround，andtheprocessionofheadsofhousesandnewdoctorsemerged，theirredandblackgownedformspassingacrossthefieldofJude’svisionlikeinaccessibleplanetsacrossanobjectglass。

Astheywenttheirnameswerecalledbyknowinginformants，andwhentheyreachedtheoldroundtheatreofWrenacheerrosehigh。

`Let’sgothatway！’criedJude，andthoughitnowrainedsteadilyheseemednottoknowit，andtookthemroundtothetheatre。Heretheystooduponthestrawthatwaslaidtodrownthediscordantnoiseofwheels，wherethequaintandfrost-eatenstonebustsencirclingthebuildinglookedwithpallidgrimnessontheproceedings，andinparticularatthebedraggledJude，Sue，andtheirchildren，asatludicrouspersonswhohadnobusinessthere。

`IwishIcouldgetin！’hesaidtoherfervidly。`Listen-I

maycatchafewwordsoftheLatinspeechbystayinghere；thewindowsareopen。’

However，beyondthepealsoftheorgan，andtheshoutsandhurrahsbetweeneachpieceoforatory，Jude’sstandinginthewetdidnotbringmuchLatintohisintelligencemorethan，nowandthen，asonorouswordinumoribus。

`Well-I’manoutsidertotheendofmydays！’hesighedafterawhile。`NowI’llgo，mypatientSue。Howgoodofyoutowaitintherainallthistime-togratifymyinfatuation！I’llnevercareanymoreabouttheinfernalcursedplace，uponmysoulIwon’t！Butwhatmadeyoutremblesowhenwewereatthebarrier？Andhowpaleyouare，Sue！’

`IsawRichardamongstthepeopleontheotherside。’

`Ah-didyou！’

`HeisevidentlycomeuptoJerusalemtoseethefestivalliketherestofus：andonthataccountisprobablylivingnotsoveryfaraway。Hehadthesamehankeringfortheuniversitythatyouhad，inamilderform。Idon’tthinkhesawme，thoughhemusthaveheardyouspeakingtothecrowd。Butheseemednottonotice。’

`Well-supposehedid。Yourmindisfreefromworriesabouthimnow，mySue？’

`Yes，Isupposeso。ButIamweak。AlthoughIknowitisallrightwithourplans，Ifeltacuriousdreadofhim；anawe，orterror，ofconventionsIdon’tbelievein。Itcomesovermeattimeslikeasortofcreepingparalysis，andmakesmesosad！’

`Youaregettingtired，Sue。Oh-Iforgot，darling！Yes，we’llgoonatonce。’

Theystartedinquestofthelodging，andatlastfoundsomethingthatseemedtopromisewell，inMildewLane-aspotwhichtoJudewasirresistible-thoughtoSueitwasnotsofascinating-anarrowlaneclosetothebackofacollege，buthavingnocommunicationwithit。Thelittlehousesweredarkenedtogloombythehighcollegiatebuildings，withinwhichlifewassofarremovedfromthatofthepeopleinthelaneasifithadbeenonoppositesidesoftheglobe；yetonlyathicknessofwalldividedthem。Twoorthreeofthehouseshadnoticesofroomstolet，andthenewcomersknockedatthedoorofone，whichawomanopened。

`Ah-listen！’saidJudesuddenly，insteadofaddressingher。

`What？’

`Whythebells-whatchurchcanthatbe？Thetonesarefamiliar。’

Anotherpealofbellshadbeguntosoundoutatsomedistanceoff。

`Idon’tknow！’saidthelandladytartly。`Didyouknocktoaskthat？’

`No；forlodgings，’saidJude，comingtohimself。

ThehouseholderscrutinizedSue’sfigureamoment。`Wehaven’tanytolet，’saidshe，shuttingthedoor。

Judelookeddiscomfited，andtheboydistressed。`Now，Jude，’

saidSue，`letmetry。Youdon’tknowtheway。’

Theyfoundasecondplacehardby；butheretheoccupier，observingnotonlySue，buttheboyandthesmallchildren，saidcivilly，`Iamsorrytosaywedon’tletwheretherearechildren’；andalsoclosedthedoor。

Thesmallchildsquareditsmouthandc