`Whycouldn’tIknowbetterthanaddressutterstrangersinsuchaway？
　　Imaybeanimpostor，andidlescamp，amanwithabadcharacter，forallthattheyknowtothecontrary……Perhapsthat’swhatIam！’
　　Nevertheless，hefoundhimselfclingingtothehopeofsomereplyastohisonelastchanceofredemption。Hewaiteddayafterday，sayingthatitwasperfectlyabsurdtoexpect，yetexpecting。WhilehewaitedhewassuddenlystirredbynewsaboutPhillotson。PhillotsonwasgivinguptheschoolnearChristminster，foralargeronefurthersouth，inMid-Wessex。
　　Whatthismeant；howitwouldaffecthiscousin；whether，asseemedpossible，itwasapracticalmoveoftheschoolmaster’stowardsalargerincome，inviewofaprovisionfortwoinsteadofone，hewouldnotallowhimselftosay。AndthetenderrelationsbetweenPhillotsonandtheyounggirlofwhomJudewaspassionatelyenamouredeffectuallymadeitrepugnanttoJude’stastestoapplytoPhillotsonforadviceonhisownscheme。
　　MeanwhiletheacademicdignitariestowhomJudehadwrittenvouchsafednoanswer，andtheyoungmanwasthusthrownbackentirelyonhimself，asformerly，withtheaddedgloomofaweakenedhope。Byindirectinquirieshesoonperceivedclearlywhathehadlonguneasilysuspected，thattoqualifyhimselfforcertainopenscholarshipsandexhibitionswastheonlybrilliantcourse。Buttodothisagooddealofcoachingwouldbenecessary，andmuchnaturalability。Itwasnexttoimpossiblethatamanreadingonhisownsystem，howeverwidelyandthoroughly，evenovertheprolongedperiodoftenyears，shouldbeabletocompetewiththosewhohadpassedtheirlivesundertrainedteachersandhadworkedtoordainedlines。
　　Theothercourse，thatofbuyinghimselfin，sotospeak，seemedtheonlyonereallyopentomenlikehim，thedifficultybeingsimplyofamaterialkind。Withthehelpofhisinformationhebegantoreckontheextentofthismaterialobstacle，andascertained，tohisdismay，that，attherateatwhich，withthebestoffortune，hewouldbeabletosavemoney，fifteenyearsmustelapsebeforehecouldbeinapositiontoforwardtestimonialstotheheadofacollegeandadvancetoamatriculationexamination。
　　Theundertakingwashopeless。
　　Hesawwhatacuriousandcunningglamourtheneighbourhoodoftheplacehadexercisedoverhim。Togetthereandlivethere，tomoveamongthechurchesandhallsandbecomeimbuedwiththegeniusloci，hadseemedtohisdreamingyouth，asthespotshapeditscharmstohimfromitshaloonthehorizon，theobviousandidealthingtodo。`Letmeonlygetthere，’hehadsaidwiththefatuousnessofCrusoeoverhisbigboat，`andtherestisbutamatteroftimeandenergy。’Itwouldhavebeenfarbetterforhimineverywayifhehadnevercomewithinsightandsoundofthedelusiveprecincts，hadgonetosomebusycommercialtownwiththesoleobjectofmakingmoneybyhiswits，andthencesurveyedhisplanintrueperspective。Well，allthatwascleartohimamountedtothis，thatthewholeschemehadburstup，likeaniridescentsoap-bubble，underthetouchofareasonedinquiry。Helookedbackathimselfalongthevistaofhispastyears，andhisthoughtwasakintoHeine’s：
　　Abovetheyouth’sinspiredandflashingeyesIseethemotleymockingfool’s-caprise！FortunatelyhehadnotbeenallowedtobringhisdisappointmentintohisdearSue’slifebyinvolvingherinthiscollapse。Andthepainfuldetailsofhisawakeningtoasenseofhislimitationsshouldnowbesparedherasfaraspossible。Afterall，shehadonlyknowalittlepartofthemiserablestruggleinwhichhehadbeenengagedthusunequipped，poor，andunforeseeing。
　　Healwaysrememberedtheappearanceoftheafternoononwhichheawokefromhisdream。Notquiteknowingwhattodowithhimself，hewentuptoanoctagonalchamberinthelanternofasingularlybuilttheatrethatwassetamidstthisquaintandsingularcity。Ithadwindowsallround，fromwhichanoutlookoverthewholetownanditsedificescouldbegained。
　　Jude’seyessweptalltheviewsinsuccession，meditatively，mournfully，yetsturdily。Thosebuildingsandtheirassociationsandprivilegeswerenotforhim。Fromtheloomingroofofthegreatlibrary，intowhichhehardlyeverhadtimetoenter，hisgazetravelledontothevariedspires，halls，gables，streets，chapels，gardens，quadrangles，whichcomposedtheensembleofthisunrivalledpanorama。Hesawthathisdestinylaynotwiththese，butamongthemanualtoilersintheshabbypurlieuwhichhehimselfoccupied，unrecognizedaspartofthecityatallbyitsvisitorsandpanegyrists，yetwithoutwhosedenizensthehardreaderscouldnotreadnorthehighthinkerslive。
　　Helookedoverthetownintothecountrybeyond，tothetreeswhichscreenedherwhosepresencehadatfirstbeenthesupportofhisheart，andwhoselosswasnowamaddeningtorture。Butforthisblowhemighthavebornewithhisfate。WithSueascompanionhecouldhaverenouncedhisambitionswithasmile。Withoutheritwasinevitablethatthereactionfromthelongstraintowhichhehadsubjectedhimselfshouldaffecthimdisastrously。Phillotsonhadnodoubtpassedthroughasimilarintellectualdisappointmenttothatwhichnowenvelopedhim。ButtheschoolmasterhadbeensinceblestwiththeconsolationofsweetSue，whileforhimtherewasnoconsoler。
　　Descendingtothestreets，hewentlistlesslyalongtillhearrivedataninn，andenteredit。Herehedrankseveralglassesofbeerinrapidsuccession，andwhenhecameoutitwasnight。Bythelightoftheflickeringlampsherambledhometosupper，andhadnotlongbeensittingattablewhenhislandladybroughtupaletterthathadjustarrivedforhim。Shelaiditdownasifimpressedwithasenseofitspossibleimportance，andonlookingatitJudeperceivedthatitboretheembossedstampofoneofthecollegeswhoseheadshehadaddressed。`One-atlast！’criedJude。
　　Thecommunicationwasbrief，andnotexactlywhathehadexpected；
　　thoughitreallywasfromthemasterinperson。Itranthus：
　　`bibliollcollege。`Sir，-Ihavereadyourletterwithinterest；and，judgingfromyourdescriptionofyourselfasaworking-man，Iventuretothinkthatyouwillhaveamuchbetterchanceofsuccessinlifebyremaininginyourownsphereandstickingtoyourtradethanbyadoptinganyothercourse。That，therefore，iswhatIadviseyoutodo。Yoursfaithfully，`T。tetuphenay。`ToMr。J。fawley，Stone-mason。’ThisterriblysensibleadviceexasperatedJude。Hehadknownallthatbefore。
　　Heknewitwastrue。Yetitseemedahardslapaftertenyearsoflabour，anditseffectuponhimjustnowwastomakehimriserecklesslyfromthetable，and，insteadofreadingasusual，togodownstairsandintothestreet。Hestoodatabarandtossedofftwoorthreeglasses，thenunconsciouslysaunteredalongtillhecametoaspotcalledTheFourwaysinthemiddleofthecity，gazingabstractedlyatthegroupsofpeoplelikeoneinatrance，till，comingtohimself，hebegantalkingtothepolicemanfixedthere。
　　Thatofficeryawned，stretchedouthiselbows，elevatedhimselfaninchandahalfontheballsofhistoes，smiled，andlookinghumorouslyatJude，said，`You’vehadawet，youngman。’
　　`No；I’veonlybegun，’herepliedcynically。
　　Whateverhiswetness，hisbrainsweredryenough。Heonlyheardinpartthepoliceman’sfurtherremarks，havingfallenintothoughtonwhatstrugglingpeoplelikehimselfhadstoodatthatcrossway，whomnobodyeverthoughtofnow。Ithadmorehistorythantheoldestcollegeinthecity。Itwasliterallyteeming，stratified，withtheshadesofhumangroups，whohadmettherefortragedy，comedy，farce；realenactmentsoftheintensestkind。AtFourwaysmenhadstoodandtalkedofNapoleon，thelossofAmerica，theexecutionofKingCharles，theburningoftheMartyrs，theCrusades，theNormanConquest，possiblyofthearrivalofCaesar。Herethetwosexeshadmetforloving，hating，coupling，parting；hadwaited，hadsuffered，foreachother；hadtriumphedovereachother；cursedeachotherinjealousy，blessedeachotherinforgiveness。
　　Hebegantoseethatthetownlifewasabookofhumanityinfinitelymorepalpitating，varied，andcompendiousthanthegownlife。ThesestrugglingmenandwomenbeforehimweretherealityofChristminster，thoughtheyknewlittleofChristorMinster。Thatwasoneofthehumoursofthings。
　　Thefloatingpopulationofstudentsandteachers，whodidknowbothinaway，werenotChristminsterinalocalsenseatall。
　　Helookedathiswatch，and，inpursuitofthisidea，hewentontillhecametoapublichall，whereapromenadeconcertwasinprogress。
　　Judeentered，andfoundtheroomfullofshopyouthsandgirls，soldiers，apprentices，boysofelevensmokingcigarettes，andlightwomenofthemorerespectableandamateurclass。HehadtappedtherealChristminsterlife。Abandwasplaying，andthecrowdwalkedaboutandjostledeachother，andeverynowandthenamangotuponaplatformandsangacomicsong。
　　ThespiritofSueseemedtohoverroundhimandpreventhisflirtinganddrinkingwiththefrolicsomegirlswhomadeadvances-wistfultogainalittlejoy。Atteno’clockhecameaway，choosingacircuitousroutehomewardtopassthegatesofthecollegewhoseheadhadjustsenthimthenote。
　　Thegateswereshut，and，byanimpulse，hetookfromhispocketthelumpofchalkwhichasaworkmanheusuallycarriedthere，andwrotealongthewall：
　　`Ihaveunderstandingaswellasyou；Iamnotinferiortoyou：yea，whoknowethnotsuchthingsasthese？’-Jobxii。3。
　　JudetheObscureChapter18II-viiThestrokeofscornrelievedhismind，andthenextmorninghelaughedathisself-conceit。Butthelaughwasnotahealthyone。Here-readtheletterfromthemaster，andthewisdominitslines，whichhadatfirstexasperatedhim，chilledanddepressedhimnow。Hesawhimselfasafoolindeed。
　　Deprivedoftheobjectsofbothintellectandemotion，hecouldnotproceedtohiswork。Wheneverhefeltreconciledtohisfateasastudent，therecametodisturbhiscalmhishopelessrelationswithSue。Thattheoneaffinedsoulhehadevermetwaslosttohimthroughhismarriagereturneduponhimwithcruelpersistency，till，unabletobearitlonger，heagainrushedfordistractiontotherealChristminsterlife。Henowsoughtitoutinanobscureandlow-ceiledtavernupacourtwhichwaswellknowntocertainworthiesoftheplace，andinbrightertimeswouldhaveinterestedhimsimplybyitsquaintness。Herehesatmoreorlessalltheday，convincedthathewasatbottomaviciouscharacter，ofwhomitwashopelesstoexpectanything。
　　Intheeveningthefrequentersofthehousedroppedinonebyone，Judestillretaininghisseatinthecorner，thoughhismoneywasallspent，andhehadnoteatenanythingthewholedayexceptabiscuit。
　　Hesurveyedhisgatheringcompanionswithalltheequanimityandphilosophyofamanwhohasbeendrinkinglongandslowly，andmadefriendswithseveral：
　　towit，TinkerTaylor，adecayedchurch-ironmongerwhoappearedtohavebeenofareligiousturninearlieryears，butwassomewhatblasphemousnow；alsoared-nosedauctioneer；alsotwoGothicmasonslikehimself，calledUncleJimandUncleJoe。Therewerepresent，too，someclerks，andagown-andsurplice-maker’sassistant；twoladieswhosportedmoralcharactersofvariousdepthsofshade，accordingtotheircompany，nicknamed`Bowero’Bliss’and`Freckles’；somehorseymen`intheknow’ofbettingcircles；
　　atravellingactorfromthetheatre，andtwodevil-may-careyoungmenwhoprovedtobegownlessundergraduates；theyhadslippedinbystealthtomeetamanaboutbull-pups，andstayedtodrinkandsmokeshortpipeswiththeracinggentsaforesaid，lookingattheirwatcheseverynowandthen。
　　Theconversationwaxedgeneral。Christminstersocietywascriticized，thedons，magistrates，andotherpeopleinauthoritybeingsincerelypitiedfortheirshortcomings，whileopinionsonhowtheyoughttoconductthemselvesandtheiraffairstobeproperlyrespected，wereexchangedinalarge-mindedanddisinterestedmanner。
　　JudeFawley，withtheself-conceit，effrontery，andaplombofastrong-brainedfellowinliquor，threwinhisremarkssomewhatperemptorily；
　　andhisaimshavingbeenwhattheywereforsomanyyears，everythingtheotherssaidturneduponhistongue，byasortofmechanicalcraze，tothesubjectofscholarshipandstudy，theextentofhisownlearningbeingdweltuponwithaninsistencethatwouldhaveappearedpitiabletohimselfinhissanehours。
　　`Idon’tcareadamn，’hewassaying，`foranyprovost，warden，principal，fellow，orcursedmasterofartsintheuniversity！WhatIknowisthatI’dlick’emontheirowngroundifthey’dgivemeachance，andshow’emafewthingstheyarenotuptoyet！’
　　`Hear，hear！’saidtheundergraduatesfromthecorner，wheretheyweretalkingprivatelyaboutthepups`Youalwayswasfondo’books，I’veheard，’saidTinkerTaylor，`andIdon’tdoubtwhatyoustate。Nowwithme’twasdifferent。Ialwayssawtherewasmoretobelearntoutsideabookthanin；andItookmystepsaccordingly，orIshouldn’thavebeenthemanIam。’
　　`YouaimattheChurch，Ibelieve？’saidUncleJoe。`Ifyouaresuchascholarastopitchyerhopessohighasthat，whynotgiveusaspecimenofyourscholarship？CanstsaytheCreedinLatin，man？Thatwashowtheyonceputittoachapdowninmycountry。’
　　`Ishouldthinkso！’saidJudehaughtily。
　　`Nothe！Likehisconceit！’screamedoneoftheladies。