第57章

`Abitofabedcouldbemadeonthefloor。Itwouldbegoodenoughforme。’

Unabletobeharshwithher，andnotknowingwhattodo，Judecalledthemanwholetthelodgings，andsaidthiswasanacquaintanceofhisingreatdistressforwantoftemporaryshelter。

`YoumayremembermeasbarmaidattheLambandFlagformerly？’

spokeupArabella。`Myfatherhasinsultedmethisafternoon，andI’velefthim，thoughwithoutapenny！’

Thehouseholdersaidhecouldnotrecallherfeatures。`Butstill，ifyouareafriendofMr。Fawley’swe’lldowhatwecanforadayortwo-ifhe’llmakehimselfanswerable？’

`Yes，yes，’saidJude。`Shehasreallytakenmequiteunawares；

butIshouldwishtohelpheroutofherdifficulty。’AndanarrangementwasultimatelycometounderwhichabedwastobethrowndowninJude’slumber-room，tomakeitcomfortableforArabellatillshecouldgetoutofthestraitshewasin-notbyherownfault，asshedeclared-andreturntoherfather’sagain。

WhiletheywerewaitingforthistobedoneArabellasaid：`Youknowthenews，Isuppose？’

`Iguesswhatyoumean；butIknownothing。’

`IhadaletterfromAnnyatAlfredstonto-day。Shehadjustheardthattheweddingwastobeyesterday：butshedidn’tknowifithadcomeoff。’

`Idon’twishtotalkofit。’

`No，no：ofcourseyoudon’t。Onlyitshowswhatkindofwoman——’

`Don’tspeakofherIsay！She’safool！Andshe’sanangel，too，poordear！’

`Ifit’sdone，he’llhaveachanceofgettingbacktohisoldposition，byeverybody’saccount，soAnnysays。Allhiswell-wisherswillbepleased，includingthebishophimself。’

`Dospareme，Arabella。’

Arabellawasdulyinstalledinthelittleattic，andatfirstshedidnotcomenearJudeatall。Shewenttoandfroaboutherownbusiness，which，whentheymetforamomentonthestairsorinthepassage，sheinformedhimwasthatofobtaininganotherplaceintheoccupationsheunderstoodbest。WhenJudesuggestedLondonasaffordingthemostlikelyopeningintheliquortrade，sheshookherhead。`No-thetemptationsaretoomany，’shesaid。`Anyhumbletaverninthecountrybeforethatforme。’

OntheSundaymorningfollowing，whenhebreakfastedlaterthanonotherdays，shemeeklyaskedhimifshemightcomeintobreakfastwithhim，asshehadbrokenherteapot，andcouldnotreplaceitimmediately，theshopsbeingshut。

`Yes，ifyoulike，’hesaidindifferently。

Whiletheysatwithoutspeakingshesuddenlyobserved：`Youseemallinabrood，oldman。I’msorryforyou。’

`Iamallinabrood。’

`Itisabouther，Iknow。It’snobusinessofmine，butIcouldfindoutallaboutthewedding-ifitreallydidtakeplace-ifyouwantedtoknow。’

`Howcouldyou？’

`IwantedtogotoAlfredstontogetafewthingsIleftthere。

AndIcouldseeAnny，who’llbesuretohaveheardallaboutit，asshehasfriendsatMarygreen。’

Judecouldnotbeartoacquiesceinthisproposal；buthissuspensepitteditselfagainsthisdiscretion，andwoninthestruggle。`Youcanaskaboutitifyoulike，’hesaid。`I’venotheardasoundfromthere。

Itmusthavebeenveryprivate，if-theyhavemarried。’

`IamafraidIhaven’tenoughcashtotakemethereandback，orIshouldhavegonebefore。ImustwaittillIhaveearnedsome。’

`Oh-Icanpaythejourneyforyou，’hesaidimpatiently。AndthushissuspenseastoSue’swelfare，andthepossiblemarriage，movedhimtodispatchforintelligencethelastemissaryhewouldhavethoughtofchoosingdeliberately。

Arabellawent，Juderequestinghertobehomenotlaterthanbytheseveno’clocktrain。Whenshehadgonehesaid：`WhyshouldIhavechargedhertobebackbyaparticulartime！She’snothingtome-northeotherneither！’

ButhavingfinishedworkhecouldnothelpgoingtothestationtomeetArabella，draggedthitherbyfeverishhastetogetthenewsshemightbring，andknowtheworst。Arabellahadmadedimplesmostsuccessfullyallthewayhome，andwhenshesteppedoutoftherailwaycarriageshesmiled。Hemerelysaid`Well？’withtheveryr