第59章

`ByGad，theyarecoming！Ithinkthedeed’sdone！’

`No，’saidUncleJoe，followinghimin。`Takemyword，heturnedrustyatthelastminute。Theyarewalkinginaveryunusualway；andthat’sthemeaningofit！’

Theywaitedinsilencetillthewedding-partycouldbeheardenteringthehouse。FirstintotheroomcameArabellaboisterously；andherfacewasenoughtoshowthatherstrategyhadsucceeded。

`Mrs。Fawley，Ipresume？’saidTinkerTaylorwithmockcourtesy。

`Certainly。Mrs。Fawleyagain，’repliedArabellablandly，pullingoffhergloveandholdingoutherlefthand。`There’sthepadlock，see……

Well，hewasaverynice，gentlemanlymanindeed。Imeantheclergyman。

Hesaidtomeasgentleasababewhenallwasdone：`Mrs。Fawley，Icongratulateyouheartily，’hesays。`Forhavingheardyourhistory，andthatofyourhusband，Ithinkyouhavebothdonetherightandproperthing。Andforyourpasterrorsasawife，andhisasahusband，Ithinkyououghtnowtobeforgivenbytheworld，asyouhaveforgiveneachother，’sayshe。

Yes：hewasaverynice，gentlemanlyman。`TheChurchdon’trecognizedivorceinherdogma，strictlyspeaking，’hesays：`andbearinmindthewordsoftheserviceinyourgoingsoutandyourcomingsin：WhatGodhathjoinedtogetherletnomanputasunder。’Yes：hewasaverynice，gentlemanlyman……But，Jude，mydear，youwereenoughtomakeacatlaugh！Youwalkedthatstraight，andheldyourselfthatsteady，thatonewouldhavethoughtyouweregoing’prenticetoajudge；thoughIknewyouwereseeingdoubleallthetime，fromthewayyoufumbledwithmyfinger。’

`IsaidI’ddoanythingto-saveawoman’shonour，’mutteredJude。`AndI’vedoneit！’

`Wellnow，olddeary，comealongandhavesomebreakfast。’

`Iwant-some-morewhisky，’saidJudestolidly。

`Nonsense，dear。Notnow！There’snomoreleft。Theteawilltakethemuddleoutofourheads，andweshallbeasfreshaslarks。’

`Allright。I’ve-marriedyou。ShesaidIoughttomarryyouagain，andIhavestraightway。Itistruereligion！Ha-ha-ha！’

JudetheObscureChapter50VI-viiiMichaelmascameandpassed，andJudeandhiswife，whohadlivedbutashorttimeinherfather’shouseaftertheirremarriage，wereinlodgingsonthetopfloorofadwellingnearertothecentreofthecity。

Hehaddoneafewdays’workduringthetwoorthreemonthssincetheevent，buthishealthhadbeenindifferent，anditwasnowprecarious。

Hewassittinginanarm-chairbeforethefire，andcoughedagooddeal。

`I’vegotabargainformytroubleinmarryingtheeoveragain！’

Arabellawassayingtohim。`Ishallhavetokeep’eeentirely-that’swhat’twillcometo！Ishallhavetomakeblack-potandsausages，andhawk’emaboutthestreet，alltosupportaninvalidhusbandI’dnobusinesstobesaddledwithatall。Whydidn’tyoukeepyourhealth，deceivingonelikethis？Youwerewellenoughwhentheweddingwas！’

`Ah，yes！’saidhe，laughingacridly。`IhavebeenthinkingofmyfoolishfeelingaboutthepigyouandIkilledduringourfirstmarriage。

IfeelnowthatthegreatestmercythatcouldbevouchsafedtomewouldbethatsomethingshouldservemeasIservedthatanimal。’

Thiswasthesortofdiscoursethatwentonbetweenthemeverydaynow。Thelandlordofthelodging，whohadheardthattheywereaqueercouple，haddoubtediftheyweremarriedatall，especiallyashehadseenArabellakissJudeoneeveningwhenshehadtakenalittlecordial；andhewasabouttogivethemnoticetoquit，tillbychanceoverhearingheronenightharanguingJudeinrattlingterms，andultimatelyflingingashoeathishead，herecognizedthenoteofgenuinewedlock；andconcludingthattheymustberespectable，saidnomore。

Judedidnotgetanybetter，andonedayherequestedArabella，withconsiderablehesitation，toexecuteacommissionforhim。Sheaskedhimindifferentlywhatitwas。

`TowritetoSue。’

`Whatinthename-doyouwantmetowritetoherfor？’

`Toaskh