Theimpendingsaleofthesebirdshadbeenthemosttryingsuspenseofthewholeafternoon。TheywereSue’spets，andwhenitwasfoundthattheycouldnotpossiblybekept，moresadnesswascausedthanbypartingfromallthefurniture。Suetriedtothinkawayhertearsassheheardthetriflingsumthatherdearsweredeemedtobeworthadvancedbysmallstagestothepriceatwhichtheywerefinallyknockeddown。Thepurchaserwasaneighbouringpoulterer，andtheywereunquestionablydoomedtodiebeforethenextmarketday。
　　NotingherdissembleddistressJudekissedher，andsaiditwastimetogoandseeifthelodgingswereready。Hewouldgoonwiththeboy，andfetchhersoon。
　　Whenshewasleftaloneshewaitedpatiently，butJudedidnotcomeback。Atlastshestarted，thecoastbeingclear，andonpassingthepoulterer’sshop，notfaroff，shesawherpigeonsinahamperbythedoor。
　　Anemotionatsightofthem，assistedbythegrowingduskofevening，causedhertoactonimpulse，andfirstlookingaroundherquickly，shepulledoutthepegwhichfasteneddownthecover，andwenton。Thecoverwasliftedfromwithin，andthepigeonsflewawaywithaclatterthatbroughtthechagrinedpoulterercursingandswearingtothedoor。
　　Suereachedthelodgingtrembling，andfoundJudeandtheboymakingitcomfortableforher。`Dothebuyerspaybeforetheybringawaythethings？’sheaskedbreathlessly。
　　`Yes，Ithink。Why？’
　　`Because，then，I’vedonesuchawickedthing！’Andsheexplained，inbittercontrition。
　　`Ishallhavetopaythepoultererforthem，ifhedoesn’tcatchthem，’saidJude。`Butnevermind。Don’tfretaboutit，dear。’
　　`Itwassofoolishofme！OhwhyshouldNature’slawbemutualbutchery！’
　　`Isitso，Mother？’askedtheboyintently。
　　`Yes！’saidSuevehemently。
　　`Well，theymusttaketheirchance，now，poorthings，’saidJude。
　　`Assoonasthesale-accountiswoundup，andourbillspaid，wego。’
　　`Wheredowegoto？’askedTime，insuspense。
　　`Wemustsailundersealedorders，thatnobodymaytraceus……
　　Wemustn’tgotoAlfredston，ortoMelchester，ortoShaston，ortoChristminster。
　　Apartfromthosewemaygoanywhere。’
　　`Whymustn’twegothere，Father？’
　　`Becauseofacloudthathasgatheredoverus；though`wehavewrongednoman，corruptednoman，defraudednoman！’Thoughperhapswehave`donethatwhichwasrightinourowneyes。’’
　　JudetheObscureChapter41V-viiFromthatweekJudeFawleyandSuewalkednomoreinthetownofAldbrickham。
　　Whithertheyhadgonenobodyknew，chieflybecausenobodycaredtoknow。Anyonesufficientlycurioustotracethestepsofsuchanobscurepairmighthavediscoveredwithoutgreattroublethattheyhadtakenadvantageofhisadaptivecraftsmanshiptoenteronashifting，almostnomadic，life，whichwasnotwithoutitspleasantnessforatime。
　　WhereverJudeheardoffree-stoneworktobedone，thitherhewent，choosingbypreferenceplacesremotefromhisoldhauntsandSue’s。
　　Helabouredatajob，longorbriefly，tillitwasfinished；andthenmovedon。
　　Twowholeyearsandahalfpassedthus。Sometimeshemighthavebeenfoundshapingthemullionsofacountrymansion，sometimessettingtheparapetofatown-hall，sometimesashlaringanhotelatSandbourne，sometimesamuseumatCasterbridge，sometimesasfardownasExonbury，sometimesatStoke-Barehills。LaterstillhewasatKennetbridge，athrivingtownnotmorethanadozenmilessouthofMarygreen，thisbeinghisnearestapproachtothevillagewherehewasknown；forhehadasensitivedreadofbeingquestionedastohislifeandfortunesbythosewhohadbeenacquaintedwithhimduringhisardentyoungmanhoodofstudyandpromise，andhisbriefandunhappymarriedlifeatthattime。
　　Atsomeoftheseplaceshewouldbedetainedformonths，atothersonlyafewweeks。Hiscuriousandsuddenantipathytoecclesiasticalwork，bothepiscopalandnoncomformist，whichhadriseninhimwhensufferingunderasmartingsenseofmisconception，remainedwithhimincoldblood，lessfromanyfearofrenewedcensurethanfromanultra-conscientiousnesswhichwouldnotallowhimtoseekalivingoutofthosewhowoulddisapproveofhisways；also，too，fromasenseofinconsistencybetweenhisformerdogmasandhispresentpractice，hardlyashredofthebeliefswithwhichhehadfirstgoneuptoChristminsternowremainingwithhim。HewasmentallyapproachingthepositionwhichSuehadoccupiedwhenhefirstmether。
　　OnaSaturdayeveninginMay，nearlythreeyearsafterArabella’srecognitionofSueandhimselfattheagriculturalshow，someofthosewhothereencounteredeachothermetagain。
　　ItwasthespringfairatKennetbridge，and，thoughthisancienttrade-meetinghadmuchdwindledfromitsdimensionsofformertimes，thelongstraightstreetoftheboroughpresentedalivelysceneaboutmidday。
　　Atthishouralighttrap，amongothervehicles，wasdrivenintothetownbythenorthroad，anduptothedoorofatemperanceinn。Therealightedtwowomen，onethedriver，anordinarycountryperson，theotherafinelybuiltfigureinthedeepmourningofawidow。Hersombresuit，ofpronouncedcut，causedhertoappearalittleoutofplaceinthemedleyandbustleofaprovincialfair。
　　`Iwilljustfindoutwhereitis，Anny，’saidthewidow-ladytohercompanion，whenthehorseandcarthadbeentakenbyamanwhocameforward：`andthenI’llcomeback，andmeetyouhere；andwe’llgoinandhavesomethingtoeatanddrink。Ibegintofeelquiteasinking。’
　　`Withallmyheart，’saidtheother。`ThoughIwouldsoonerhaveputupattheChequersorTheJack。Youcan’tgetmuchatthesetemperancehouses。’
　　`Now，don’tyougivewaytogluttonousdesires，mychild，’saidthewomaninweedsreprovingly。`Thisistheproperplace。Verywell：we’llmeetinhalfanhour，unlessyoucomewithmetofindoutwherethesiteofthenewchapelis？’
　　`Idon’tcareto。Youcantellme。’
　　Thecompanionsthenwenttheirseveralways，theoneincrapewalkingfirmlyalongwithamienofdisconnectionfromhermiscellaneoussurroundings。Makinginquiriesshecametoahoarding，withinwhichwereexcavationsdenotingthefoundationsofabuilding；andontheboardswithoutoneortwolargepostersannouncingthatthefoundation-stoneofthechapelabouttobeerectedwouldbelaidthatafternoonatthreeo’clockbyaLondonpreacherofgreatpopularityamonghisbody。
　　Havingascertainedthusmuchtheimmenselyweededwidowretracedhersteps，andgaveherselfleisuretoobservethemovementsofthefair。
　　Byandbyherattentionwasarrestedbyalittlestallofcakesandginger-breads，standingbetweenthemorepretentiouserectionsoftrestlesandcanvas。
　　Itwascoveredwithanimmaculatecloth，andtendedbyayoungwomanapparentlyunusedtothebusiness，shebeingaccompaniedbyaboywithanoctogenarianface，whoassistedher。
　　`Uponmy-senses！’murmuredthewidowtoherself。`HiswifeSue-ifsheisso！’Shedrewnearertothestall。`Howdoyoudo，Mrs。Fawley？’
　　shesaidblandly。
　　SuechangedcolourandrecognizedArabellathroughthecrapeveil。
　　`Howareyou，Mrs。Cartlett？’shesaidstiffly。AndthenperceivingArabella’sgarbhervoicegrewsympatheticinspiteofherself。`What？-
　　youhavelost——’
　　`Mypoorhusband。Yes。Hediedsuddenly，sixweeksago，leavingmenonetoowelloff，thoughhewasakindhusbandtome。Butwhateverprofitthereisinpublic-housekeepinggoestothemthatbrewtheliquors，andnottothemthatretail’em……Andyou，mylittleoldman！Youdon’tknowme，Iexpect？’
　　`Yes，Ido。YoubethewomanIthoughtwermymotherforabit，tillIfoundyouwasn’t，’repliedFatherTime，whohadlearnedtousetheWessextonguequitenaturallybynow。
　　`Allright。Nevermind。Iamafriend。’
　　`Juey，’saidSuesuddenly，`godowntothestationplatformwiththistray-there’sanothertraincomingin，Ithink。’
　　WhenhewasgoneArabellacontinued：`He’llneverbeabeauty，willhe，poorchap！DoesheknowIamhismotherreally？’
　　`No。Hethinksthereissomemysteryabouthisparentage-that’sall。Judeisgoingtotellhimwhenheisalittleolder。’
　　`Buthowdoyoucometobedoingthis？Iamsurprised。’
　　`Itisonlyatemporaryoccupation-afancyofourswhileweareinadifficulty。’
　　`Thenyouarelivingwithhimstill？’
　　`Yes。’
　　`Married？’
　　`Ofcourse。’
　　`Anychildren？’
　　`Two。’
　　`Andanothercomingsoon，Isee。’
　　Suewrithedunderthehardanddirectquestioning，andhertenderlittlemouthbegantoquiver。
　　`Lord-Imeangoodnessgracious-whatistheretocryabout？
　　Somefolkswouldbeproudenough！’
　　`ItisnotthatIamashamed-notasyouthink！Butitseemssuchaterriblytragicthingtobringbeingsintotheworld-sopresumptuous-thatIquestionmyrighttodoitsometimes！’
　　`Takeiteasy，mydear……Butyoudon’ttellmewhyyoudosuchathingasthis？Judeusedtobeaproudsortofchap-aboveanybusinessalmost，leavealonekeepingastanding。’
　　`Perhapsmyhusbandhasalteredalittlesincethen。Iamsureheisnotproudnow！’AndSue’slipsquiveredagain。`Iamdoingthisbecausehecaughtachillearlyintheyearwhileputtingupsomestoneworkofamusic-hall，atQuartershot，whichhehadtodointherain，theworkhavingtobeexecutedbyafixedday。Heisbetterthanhewas；butithasbeenalong，wearytime！Wehavehadanoldwidowfriendwithustohelpusthroughit；butshe’sleavingsoon。’
　　`Well，Iamrespectabletoo，thankGod，andofaseriouswayofthinkingsincemyloss。Whydidyouchoosetosellgingerbreads？’
　　`That’sapureaccident。Hewasbroughtuptothebakingbusiness，anditoccurredtohimtotryhishandatthese，whichhecanmakewithoutcomingoutofdoors。WecallthemChristminstercakes。Theyareagreatsuccess。’
　　`Ineversawanylike’em。Why，theyarewindowsandtowers，andpinnacles！Anduponmywordtheyareverynice。’Shehadhelpedherself，andwasunceremoniouslymunchingoneofthecakes。
　　`Yes。TheyarereminiscencesoftheChristminsterColleges。Traceriedwindows，andcloisters，yousee。Itwasawhimofhistodotheminpastry。’
　　`StillharpingonChristminster-eveninhiscakes！’laughedArabella。`JustlikeJude。Arulingpassion。Whataqueerfellowheis，andalwayswillbe！’
　　Suesighed，andshelookedherdistressathearinghimcriticized。
　　`Don’tyouthinkheis？Comenow；youdo，thoughyouaresofondofhim！’
　　`OfcourseChristminsterisasortoffixedvisionwithhim，whichIsupposehe’llneverbecuredofbelievingin。Hestillthinksitagreatcentreofhighandfearlessthought，insteadofwhatitis，anestofcommonplaceschoolmasterswhosecharacteristicistimidobsequiousnesstotradition。’
　　ArabellawasquizzingSuewithmoreregardofhowshewasspeakingthanofwhatshewassaying。`Howoddtohearawomansellingcakestalklikethat！’shesaid。`Whydon’tyougobacktoschool-keeping？’
　　Sheshookherhead。`Theywon’thaveme。’
　　`Becauseofthedivorce，Isuppose？’
　　`Thatandotherthings。Andthereisnoreasontowishit。Wegaveupallambition，andwereneversohappyinourlivestillhisillnesscame。’
　　`Whereareyouliving？’
　　`Idon’tcaretosay。’
　　`HereinKennetbridge？’
　　Sue’smannershowedArabellathatherrandomguesswasright。
　　`Herecomestheboybackagain，’continuedArabella。`MyboyandJude’s！’
　　Sue’seyesdartedaspark。`Youneedn’tthrowthatinmyface！’
　　shecried。
　　`Verywell-thoughIhalf-feelasifIshouldliketohavehimwithme！……ButLord，Idon’twanttotakehimfrom’ee-everIshouldsintospeaksoprofane-thoughIshouldthinkyoumusthaveenoughofyourown！He’sinverygoodhands，thatIknow；andIamnotthewomantofindfaultwithwhattheLordhasordained。I’vereachedamoreresignedframeofmind。’
　　`Indeed！IwishIhadbeenabletodoso。’