Whentheothertravellersclosedtheireyes，whichtheydidonebyone-eventhekittencurlingitselfupinthebasket，wearyofitstoocircumscribedplay-theboyremainedjustasbefore。Hethenseemedtobedoublyawake，likeanenslavedanddwarfeddivinity，sittingpassiveandregardinghiscompanionsasifhesawtheirwholeroundedlivesratherthantheirimmediatefigures。
　　ThiswasArabella’sboy。WithherusualcarelessnessshehadpostponedwritingtoJudeabouthimtilltheeveofhislanding，whenshecouldabsolutelypostponenolonger，thoughshehadknownforweeksofhisapproachingarrival，andhad，asshetrulysaid，visitedAldbrickhammainlytorevealtheboy’sexistenceandhisnearhome-comingtoJude。Thisverydayonwhichshehadreceivedherformerhusband’sansweratsometimeintheafternoon，thechildreachedtheLondonDocks，andthefamilyinwhosechargehehadcome，havingputhimintoacabforLambethanddirectedthecabmantohismother’shouse，badehimgood-bye，andwenttheirway。
　　OnhisarrivalattheThreeHorns，Arabellahadlookedhimoverwithanexpressionthatwasasgoodassaying，`YouareverymuchwhatIexpectedyoutobe，’hadgivenhimagoodmeal，alittlemoney，and，lateasitwasgetting，dispatchedhimtoJudebythenexttrain，wishingherhusbandCartlett，whowasout，nottoseehim。
　　ThetrainreachedAldbrickham，andtheboywasdepositedonthelonelyplatformbesidehisbox。Thecollectortookhisticketand，withameditativesenseoftheunfitnessofthings，askedhimwherehewasgoingbyhimselfatthattimeofnight。
　　`GoingtoSpringStreet，’saidthelittleoneimpassively。
　　`Why，that’salongwayfromhere；a’mostoutinthecountry；
　　andthefolkswillbegonetobed。’
　　`I’vegottogothere。’
　　`Youmusthaveaflyforyourbox。’
　　`No。Imustwalk。’
　　`Ohwell：you’dbetterleaveyourboxhereandsendforit。There’sa’busgoeshalf-way，butyou’llhavetowalktherest。’
　　`Iamnotafraid。’
　　`Whydidn’tyourfriendscometomeet’ee？’
　　`Isupposetheydidn’tknowIwascoming。’
　　`Whoisyourfriends？’
　　`Motherdidn’twishmetosay。’
　　`AllIcando，then，istotakechargeofthis。Nowwalkasfastasyoucan。’
　　Sayingnothingfurthertheboycameoutintothestreet，lookingroundtoseethatnobodyfollowedorobservedhim。Whenhehadwalkedsomelittledistanceheaskedforthestreetofhisdestination。Hewastoldtogostraightonquiteintotheoutskirtsoftheplace。
　　Thechildfellintoasteadymechanicalcreepwhichhadinitanimpersonalquality-themovementofthewave，orofthebreeze，orofthecloud。Hefollowedhisdirectionsliterally，withoutaninquiringgazeatanything。Itcouldhavebeenseenthattheboy’sideasoflifeweredifferentfromthoseofthelocalboys。Childrenbeginwithdetail，andlearnuptothegeneral；theybeginwiththecontiguous，andgraduallycomprehendtheuniversal。Theboyseemedtohavebegunwiththegeneralsoflife，andnevertohaveconcernedhimselfwiththeparticulars。Tohimthehouses，thewillows，theobscurefieldsbeyond，wereapparentlyregardednotasbrickresidences，pollards，meadows；butashumandwellingsintheabstract，vegetation，andthewidedarkworld。
　　Hefoundthewaytothelittlelane，andknockedatthedoorofJude’shouse。Judehadjustretiredtobed，andSuewasabouttoenterherchamberadjoiningwhensheheardtheknockandcamedown。
　　`IsthiswhereFatherlives？’askedthechild。
　　`Who？’
　　`Mr。Fawley，that’shisname。’
　　SueranuptoJude’sroomandtoldhim，andhehurrieddownassoonashecould，thoughtoherimpatienceheseemedlong。
　　`What-isithe-sosoon？’sheaskedasJudecame。
　　Shescrutinizedthechild’sfeatures，andsuddenlywentawayintothelittlesitting-roomadjoining。Judeliftedtheboytoalevelwithhimself，keenlyregardedhimwithgloomytenderness，andtellinghimhewouldhavebeenmetiftheyhadknownofhiscomingsosoon，sethimprovisionallyinachairwhilsthewenttolookforSue，whosesupersensitivenesswasdisturbed，asheknew。Hefoundherinthedark，bendingoveranarm-chair。
　　Heenclosedherwithhisarm，andputtinghisfacebyhers，whispered，`What’sthematter？’
　　`WhatArabellasaysistrue-true！Iseeyouinhim！’
　　`Well：that’sonethinginmylifeasitshouldbe，atanyrate。’
　　`Buttheotherhalfofhimis-she！Andthat’swhatI
　　can’tbear！ButIoughtto-I’lltrytogetusedtoit；yes，Iought！’
　　`JealouslittleSue！Iwithdrawallremarksaboutyoursexlessness。
　　Nevermind！Timemayrightthings……AndSue，darling；Ihaveanidea！
　　We’lleducateandtrainhimwithaviewtotheuniversity。WhatIcouldn’taccomplishinmyownpersonperhapsIcancarryoutthroughhim？Theyaremakingiteasierforpoorstudentsnow，youknow。’
　　`Ohyoudreamer！’saidshe，andholdinghishandreturnedtothechildwithhim。Theboylookedatherasshehadlookedathim。`Isityouwho’smyrealmotheratlast？’heinquired。
　　`Why？DoIlooklikeyourfather’swife？’
　　`Well，yes；’ceptheseemsfondofyou，andyouofhim。CanI
　　callyouMother？’
　　Thenayearninglookcameoverthechildandhebegantocry。
　　Suethereuponcouldnotrefrainfrominstantlydoinglikewise，beingaharpwhichtheleastwindofemotionfromanother’sheartcouldmaketovibrateasreadilyasaradicalstirinherown。
　　`YoumaycallmeMother，ifyouwishto，mypoordear！’shesaid，bendinghercheekagainsthistohidehertears。
　　`What’sthisroundyourneck？’askedJudewithaffectedcalmness。
　　`Thekeyofmyboxthat’satthestation。’
　　Theybustledaboutandgothimsomesupper，andmadehimupatemporarybed，wherehesoonfellasleep。Bothwentandlookedathimashelay。
　　`HecalledyouMothertwoorthreetimesbeforehedroppedoff，’
　　murmuredJude。`Wasn’titoddthatheshouldhavewantedto！’
　　`Well-itwassignificant，’saidSue。`There’smoreforustothinkaboutinthatonelittlehungryheartthaninallthestarsofthesky……Isuppose，dear，wemustpluckupcourage，andgetthatceremonyover？Itisnousestrugglingagainstthecurrent，andIfeelmyselfgettingintertwinedwithmykind。OhJude，you’lllovemedearly，won’tyou，afterwards！Idowanttobekindtothischild，andtobeamothertohim；andouraddingthelegalformtoourmarriagemightmakeiteasierforme。’
　　JudetheObscureChapter38V-ivTheirnextandsecondattemptthereatwasmoredeliberatelymade，thoughitwasbegunonthemorningfollowingthesingularchild’sarrivalattheirhome。
　　Himtheyfoundtobeinthehabitofsittingsilent，hisquaintandweirdfaceset，andhiseyesrestingonthingstheydidnotseeinthesubstantialworld。
　　`HisfaceislikethetragicmaskofMelpomene，’saidSue。`Whatisyourname，dear？Didyoutellus？’
　　`LittleFatherTimeiswhattheyalwayscalledme。Itisanickname；
　　becauseIlooksoaged，theysay。’
　　`Andyoutalkso，too，’saidSuetenderly。`Itisstrange，Jude，thatthesepreternaturallyoldboysalmostalwayscomefromnewcountries。
　　Butwhatwereyouchristened？’
　　`Ineverwas。’
　　`Whywasthat？’
　　`Because，ifIdiedindamnation，’twouldsavetheexpenseofaChristianfuneral。’
　　`Oh-yournameisnotJude，then？’saidhisfatherwithsomedisappointment。
　　Theboyshookhishead。`Neverheerdonit。’
　　`Ofcoursenot，’saidSuequickly；`sinceshewashatingyouallthetime！’
　　`We’llhavehimchristened，’saidJude；andprivatelytoSue：
　　`Thedaywearemarried。’Yettheadventofthechilddisturbedhim。
　　Theirpositionlentthemshyness，andhavinganimpressionthatamarriageatasuperintendentregistrar’sofficewasmoreprivatethananecclesiasticalone，theydecidedtoavoidachurchthistime。BothSueandJudetogetherwenttotheofficeofthedistricttogivenotice：theyhadbecomesuchcompanionsthattheycouldhardlydoanythingofimportanceexceptineachother’scompany。
　　JudeFawleysignedtheformofnotice，Suelookingoverhisshoulderandwatchinghishandasittracedthewords。Asshereadthefour-squareundertaking，neverbeforeseenbyher，intowhichherownandJude’snameswereinserted，andbywhichthatveryvolatileessence，theirloveforeachother，wassupposedtobemadepermanent，herfaceseemedtogrowpainfullyapprehensive。`NamesandSurnamesoftheParties’-theyweretobepartiesnow，notlovers，shethought。`Condition’-ahorrididea-
　　`RankorOccupation’-`Age’-`Dwellingat’-`LengthofResidence’-
　　`ChurchorBuildinginwhichtheMarriageistobesolemnized’-`DistrictandCountyinwhichthePartiesrespectivelydwell。’
　　`Itspoilsthesentiment，doesn’tit！’shesaidontheirwayhome。
　　`Itseemsmakingamoresordidbusinessofiteventhansigningthecontractinavestry。Thereisalittlepoetryinachurch。Butwe’lltrytogetthroughwithit，dearest，now。’
　　`Wewill。`Forwhatmanishethathathbetrothedawifeandhathnottakenher？Lethimgoandreturnuntohishouse，lesthedieinthebattle，andanothermantakeher。’SosaidtheJewishlaw-giver。’
　　`HowyouknowtheScriptures，Jude！Youreallyoughttohavebeenaparson。Icanonlyquoteprofanewriters！’
　　DuringtheintervalbeforetheissuingofthecertificateSue，inherhousekeepingerrands，sometimeswalkedpasttheoffice，andfurtivelyglancinginsawaffixedtothewallthenoticeofthepurposedclinchtotheirunion。Shecouldnotbearitsaspect。Comingafterherpreviousexperienceofmatrimony，alltheromanceoftheirattachmentseemedtobestarvedawaybyplacingherpresentcaseinthesamecategory。ShewasusuallyleadinglittleFatherTimebythehand，andfanciedthatpeoplethoughthimhers，andregardedtheintendedceremonyasthepatchingupofanolderror。
　　MeanwhileJudedecidedtolinkhispresentwithhispastinsomeslightdegreebyinvitingtotheweddingtheonlypersonremainingonearthwhowasassociatedwithhisearlylifeatMarygreen-theagedwidowMrs。
　　Edlin，whohadbeenhisgreat-aunt’sfriendandnurseinherlastillness。
　　Hehardlyexpectedthatshewouldcome；butshedid，bringingsingularpresents，intheformofapples，jam，brasssnuffers，anancientpewterdish，awarming-pan，andanenormousbagofgoosefeatherstowardsabed。
　　ShewasallottedthespareroominJude’shouse，whithersheretiredearly，andwheretheycouldhearherthroughtheceilingbelow，honestlysayingtheLord’sPrayerinaloudvoice，astheRubricdirected。
　　As，however，shecouldnotsleep，anddiscoveredthatSueandJudewerestillsittingup-itbeinginfactonlyteno’clock-shedressedherselfagainandcamedown，andtheyallsatbythefiretillalatehour-FatherTimeincluded；though，asheneverspoke，theywerehardlyconsciousofhim。
　　`Well，Ibain’tsetagainstmarryingasyourgreat-auntwas，’
　　saidthewidow。`AndIhope’twillbeajocundweddingforyeinallrespectsthistime。Nobodycanhopeitmore，knowingwhatIdoofyourfamilies，whichismore，Isuppose，thananybodyelsenowliving。Fortheyhavebeenunluckythatway，Godknows。’
　　Suebreatheduneasily。
　　`Theywasalwaysgood-heartedpeople，too-wouldn’tkillaflyiftheyknowedit，’continuedtheweddingguest。`Butthingshappenedtothwart’em，andifeverythingwasn’tvittytheywereupset。Nodoubtthat’showhethatthetaleistoldofcametodowhat’adid-ifhewereoneofyourfamily。’
　　`Whatwasthat？’saidJude。
　　`Well-thattale，yeknow；hethatwasgibbetedjustonthebrowofthehillbytheBrownHouse-notfarfromthemilestonebetweenMarygreenandAlfredston，wheretheotherroadbranchesoff。ButLord，’twasinmygrandfather’stime；anditmedn’havebeenoneofyourfolkatall。’
　　`Iknowwherethegibbetissaidtohavestood，verywell，’murmuredJude。`ButIneverheardofthis。What-didthisman-myancestorandSue’s-killhiswife？’
　　`’Twernotthatexactly。Sheranawayfromhim，withtheirchild，toherfriends；andwhileshewastherethechilddied。Hewantedthebody，toburyitwherehispeoplelay，butshewouldn’tgiveitup。Herhusbandthencameinthenightwithacart，andbrokeintothehousetostealthecoffinaway；buthewascatched，andbeingobstinate，wouldn’ttellwhathebrokeinfor。Theybroughtitinburglary，andthat’swhyhewashangedandgibbetedonBrownHouseHill。Hiswifewentmadafterhewasdead。
　　Butitmedn’tbetruethathebelongedtoyemorethantome。’
　　Asmallslowvoicerosefromtheshadeofthefireside，asifoutoftheearth：`IfIwasyou，Mother，Iwouldn’tmarryFather！’ItcamefromlittleTime，andtheystarted，fortheyhadforgottenhim。
　　`Oh，itisonlyatale，’saidSuecheeringly。