第58章

`Youmustmindtheshopthismorning，’hesaidcasually。`I’vetogoandgetsomeinwardsandhalfapigfromLumsdon，andtocallelsewhere。

Ifyoulivehereyoumustputyourshouldertothewheel，atleasttillIgetthebusinessstarted！’

`Well，forto-dayIcan’tsay。’Shelookeddeedilyintohisface。

`I’vegotaprizeupstairs。’

`Oh？What’sthat？’

`Ahusband-almost。’

`No！’

`Yes。It’sJude。He’scomebacktome。’

`Youroldoriginalone？Well，I’mdamned！’

`Well，Ialwaysdidlikehim，thatIwillsay。’

`Buthowdoeshecometobeupthere？’saidDonn，humour-struck，andnoddingtotheceiling。

`Don’taskinconvenientquestions，Father。Whatwe’vetodoistokeephimheretillheandIare-aswewere。’

`Howwasthat？’

`Married。’

`Ah……WellitistherummestthingIeverheardof-marryinganoldhusbandagain，andsomuchnewbloodintheworld！He’snocatch，tomythinking。I’dhavehadanewonewhileIwasaboutit。’

`Itisn’trumforawomantowantheroldhusbandbackforrespectability，thoughforamantowanthisoldwifeback-well，perhapsitisfunny，rather！’AndArabellawassuddenlyseizedwithafitofloudlaughter，inwhichherfatherjoinedmoremoderately。

`Beciviltohim，andI’lldotherest，’shesaidwhenshehadrecoveredseriousness。`Hetoldmethismorningthathisheadachedfittoburst，andhehardlyseemedtoknowwherehewas。Andnowonder，consideringhowhemixedhisdrinklastnight。Wemustkeephimjollyandcheerfulhereforadayortwo，andnotlethimgobacktohislodging。WhateveryouadvanceI’llpaybacktoyouagain。ButImustgoupandseehowheisnow，poordeary。’

Arabellaascendedthestairs，softlyopenedthedoorofthefirstbedroom，andpeepedin。FindingthathershornSamsonwasasleepsheenteredtothebedsideandstoodregardinghim。Thefeveredflushonhisfacefromthedebauchofthepreviouseveninglessenedthefragilityofhisordinaryappearance，andhislonglashes，darkbrows，andcurlybackhairandbeardagainstthewhitepillowcompletedthephysiognomyofonewhomArabella，asawomanofrankpassions，stillfeltitworthwhiletorecapture，highlyimportanttorecaptureasawomanstraitenedbothinmeansandinreputation。

Herardentgazeseemedtoaffecthim；hisquickbreathingbecamesuspended，andheopenedhiseyes。

`Howareyounow，dear？’saidshe。`ItisI-Arabella。’

`Ah！-where-ohyes，Iremember！Yougavemeshelter……Iamstranded-ill-demoralized-damnbad！That’swhatIam！’

`Thendostayhere。There’snobodyinthehousebutfatherandme，andyoucanresttillyouarethoroughlywell。I’lltellthematthestoneworksthatyouareknockedup。’

`Iwonderwhattheyarethinkingatthelodgings！’

`I’llgoroundandexplain。Perhapsyouhadbetterletmepayup，orthey’llthinkwe’verunaway？’

`Yes。You’llfindenoughmoneyinmypocketthere。’

Quiteindifferent，andshuttinghiseyesbecausehecouldnotbearthedaylightinhisthrobbingeye-balls，Judeseemedtodozeagain。

Arabellatookhispurse，softlylefttheroom，andputtingonheroutdoorthingswentofftothelodgingssheandhehadquittedtheeveningbefore。

Scarcelyhalfanhourhadelapsedereshereappearedroundthecorner，walkingbesidealadwheelingatruckonwhichwerepiledallJude’shouseholdpossessions，andalsothefewofArabella’sthingswhichshehadtakentothelodgingforhershortsojournthere。Judewasinsuchphysicalpainfromhisunfortunatebreak-downofthepreviousnight，andinsuchmentalpainfromthelossofSueandfromhavingyieldedinhishalf-somnolentstatetoArabella，thatwhenhesawhisfewchattelsunpackedandstandingbeforehiseyesinthisstrangebedroom，intermixedwithwoman’sapparel，hescarcelyconsideredhowtheyhadcomethere，orwhattheircomingsignalized。

`Now，’saidArabellatoherfatherdownstairs，`wemustkeepplentyofgoodliquorgoinginthehousethesenextfewdays。Iknowhisnature，andifheoncegetsintothatfearfullylowstatethathedoesgetintosometimes，he’llneverdothehonourablethingbymeinthisworld，andIsh