`Abitofabedcouldbemadeonthefloor。Itwouldbegoodenoughforme。’
　　Unabletobeharshwithher，andnotknowingwhattodo，Judecalledthemanwholetthelodgings，andsaidthiswasanacquaintanceofhisingreatdistressforwantoftemporaryshelter。
　　`YoumayremembermeasbarmaidattheLambandFlagformerly？’
　　spokeupArabella。`Myfatherhasinsultedmethisafternoon，andI’velefthim，thoughwithoutapenny！’
　　Thehouseholdersaidhecouldnotrecallherfeatures。`Butstill，ifyouareafriendofMr。Fawley’swe’lldowhatwecanforadayortwo-ifhe’llmakehimselfanswerable？’
　　`Yes，yes，’saidJude。`Shehasreallytakenmequiteunawares；
　　butIshouldwishtohelpheroutofherdifficulty。’AndanarrangementwasultimatelycometounderwhichabedwastobethrowndowninJude’slumber-room，tomakeitcomfortableforArabellatillshecouldgetoutofthestraitshewasin-notbyherownfault，asshedeclared-andreturntoherfather’sagain。
　　WhiletheywerewaitingforthistobedoneArabellasaid：`Youknowthenews，Isuppose？’
　　`Iguesswhatyoumean；butIknownothing。’
　　`IhadaletterfromAnnyatAlfredstonto-day。Shehadjustheardthattheweddingwastobeyesterday：butshedidn’tknowifithadcomeoff。’
　　`Idon’twishtotalkofit。’
　　`No，no：ofcourseyoudon’t。Onlyitshowswhatkindofwoman——’
　　`Don’tspeakofherIsay！She’safool！Andshe’sanangel，too，poordear！’
　　`Ifit’sdone，he’llhaveachanceofgettingbacktohisoldposition，byeverybody’saccount，soAnnysays。Allhiswell-wisherswillbepleased，includingthebishophimself。’
　　`Dospareme，Arabella。’
　　Arabellawasdulyinstalledinthelittleattic，andatfirstshedidnotcomenearJudeatall。Shewenttoandfroaboutherownbusiness，which，whentheymetforamomentonthestairsorinthepassage，sheinformedhimwasthatofobtaininganotherplaceintheoccupationsheunderstoodbest。WhenJudesuggestedLondonasaffordingthemostlikelyopeningintheliquortrade，sheshookherhead。`No-thetemptationsaretoomany，’shesaid。`Anyhumbletaverninthecountrybeforethatforme。’
　　OntheSundaymorningfollowing，whenhebreakfastedlaterthanonotherdays，shemeeklyaskedhimifshemightcomeintobreakfastwithhim，asshehadbrokenherteapot，andcouldnotreplaceitimmediately，theshopsbeingshut。
　　`Yes，ifyoulike，’hesaidindifferently。
　　Whiletheysatwithoutspeakingshesuddenlyobserved：`Youseemallinabrood，oldman。I’msorryforyou。’
　　`Iamallinabrood。’
　　`Itisabouther，Iknow。It’snobusinessofmine，butIcouldfindoutallaboutthewedding-ifitreallydidtakeplace-ifyouwantedtoknow。’
　　`Howcouldyou？’
　　`IwantedtogotoAlfredstontogetafewthingsIleftthere。
　　AndIcouldseeAnny，who’llbesuretohaveheardallaboutit，asshehasfriendsatMarygreen。’
　　Judecouldnotbeartoacquiesceinthisproposal；buthissuspensepitteditselfagainsthisdiscretion，andwoninthestruggle。`Youcanaskaboutitifyoulike，’hesaid。`I’venotheardasoundfromthere。
　　Itmusthavebeenveryprivate，if-theyhavemarried。’
　　`IamafraidIhaven’tenoughcashtotakemethereandback，orIshouldhavegonebefore。ImustwaittillIhaveearnedsome。’
　　`Oh-Icanpaythejourneyforyou，’hesaidimpatiently。AndthushissuspenseastoSue’swelfare，andthepossiblemarriage，movedhimtodispatchforintelligencethelastemissaryhewouldhavethoughtofchoosingdeliberately。
　　Arabellawent，Juderequestinghertobehomenotlaterthanbytheseveno’clocktrain。Whenshehadgonehesaid：`WhyshouldIhavechargedhertobebackbyaparticulartime！She’snothingtome-northeotherneither！’
　　ButhavingfinishedworkhecouldnothelpgoingtothestationtomeetArabella，draggedthitherbyfeverishhastetogetthenewsshemightbring，andknowtheworst。Arabellahadmadedimplesmostsuccessfullyallthewayhome，andwhenshesteppedoutoftherailwaycarriageshesmiled。Hemerelysaid`Well？’withtheveryreverseofasmile。
　　`Theyaremarried。’
　　`Yes-ofcoursetheyare！’hereturned。Sheobserved，however，thehardstrainuponhislipashespoke。
　　`AnnysaysshehasheardfromBelinda，herrelationoutatMarygreen，thatitwasverysad，andcurious！’
　　`Howdoyoumeansad？Shewantedtomarryhimagain，didn’tshe？
　　Andheher！’
　　`Yes-thatwasit。Shewantedtoinonesense，butnotintheother。Mrs。Edlinwasmuchupsetbyitall，andspokeouthermindatPhillotson。
　　ButSuewasthatexcitedaboutitthatsheburntherbestembroiderythatshe’dwornwithyou，toblotyououtentirely。Well-ifawomanfeelslikeit，sheoughttodoit。Icommendherforit，thoughothersdon’t。’
　　Arabellasighed。`Shefelthewasheronlyhusband，andthatshebelongedtonobodyelseinthesightofGodA’mightywhilehelived。Perhapsanotherwomanfeelsthesameaboutherself，too！’Arabellasighedagain。
　　`Idon’twantanycant！’exclaimedJude。
　　`Itisn’tcant，’saidArabella。`Ifeelexactlythesameasshe！’
　　Heclosedthatissuebyremarkingabruptly：`Well-nowIknowallIwantedtoknow。Manythanksforyourinformation。Iamnotgoingbacktomylodgingsjustyet。’Andheleftherstraightway。
　　InhismiseryanddepressionJudewalkedtowell-nigheveryspotinthecitythathehadvisitedwithSue；thencehedidnotknowwhither，andthenthoughtofgoinghometohisusualeveningmeal。Buthavingallthevicesofhisvirtues，andsometospare，heturnedintoapublichouse，forthefirsttimeduringmanymonths。AmongthepossibleconsequencesofhermarriageSuehadnotdweltonthis。
　　Arabella，meanwhile，hadgoneback。Theeveningpassed，andJudedidnotreturn。Athalf-pastnineArabellaherselfwentout，firstproceedingtoanoutlyingdistrictneartheriverwhereherfatherlived，andhadopenedasmallandprecariouspork-shoplately。
　　`Well，’shesaidtohim，`forallyourrowingmethatnight，I’vecalledin，forIhavesomethingtotellyou。IthinkIshallgetmarriedandsettledagain。Onlyyoumusthelpme：andyoucandonoless，afterwhatI’vestood’ee。’
　　`I’lldoanythingtogettheeoffmyhands！’
　　`Verywell。Iamnowgoingtolookformyyoungman。He’sonthelooseI’mafraid，andImustgethimhome。AllIwantyoutodoto-nightisnottofastenthedoor，incaseIshouldwanttosleephere，andshouldbelate。’
　　`Ithoughtyou’dsoongettiredofgivingyourselfairsandkeepingaway！’
　　`Well-don’tdothedoor。That’sallIsay。’
　　Shethensalliedoutagain，andfirsthasteningbacktoJude’stomakesurethathehadnotreturned，beganhersearchforhim。AshrewdguessastohisprobablecoursetookherstraighttothetavernwhichJudehadformerlyfrequented，andwhereshehadbeenbarmaidforabriefterm。
　　Shehadnosooneropenedthedoorofthe`PrivateBar’thanhereyesfelluponhim-sittingintheshadeatthebackofthecompartment，withhiseyesfixedonthefloorinablankstare。Hewasdrinkingnothingstrongerthanalejustthen。Hedidnotobserveher，andsheenteredandsatbesidehim。
　　Judelookedup，andsaidwithoutsurprise：`You’vecometohavesomething，Arabella？……I’mtryingtoforgether：that’sall！ButIcan’t；
　　andIamgoinghome。’Shesawthathewasalittlewayoninliquor，butonlyalittleasyet。
　　`I’vecomeentirelytolookforyou，dearboy。Youarenotwell。
　　Nowyoumusthavesomethingbetterthanthat。’Arabellaheldupherfingertothebarmaid。`Youshallhavealiqueur-that’sbetterfitforamanofeducationthanbeer。Youshallhavemaraschino，orcuracaodryorsweet，orcherrybrandy。I’lltreatyou，poorchap！’
　　`Idon’tcarewhich！Saycherrybrandy……Suehasservedmebadly，verybadly。Ididn’texpectitofSue！Istucktoher，andsheoughttohavestucktome。I’dhavesoldmysoulforhersake，butshewouldn’triskhersajotforme。Tosaveherownsoulsheletsminegodamn！……
　　Butitisn’therfault，poorlittlegirl-Iamsureitisn’t！’
　　HowArabellahadobtainedmoneydidnotappear，butsheorderedaliqueureach，andpaidforthem。WhentheyhaddrunktheseArabellasuggestedanother；andJudehadthepleasureofbeing，asitwere，personallyconductedthroughthevarietiesofspirituousdelectationbyonewhoknewthelandmarkswell。ArabellakeptveryconsiderablyintherearofJude；butthoughsheonlysippedwherehedrank，shetookasmuchasshecouldsafelytakewithoutlosingherhead-whichwasnotalittle，asthecrimsonuponhercountenanceshowed。
　　Hertonetowardshimto-nightwasuniformlysoothingandcajoling；
　　andwheneverhesaid`Idon’tcarewhathappenstome，’athinghedidcontinually，shereplied，`ButIdoverymuch！’Theclosinghourcame，andtheywerecompelledtoturnout；whereuponArabellaputherarmroundhiswaist，andguidedhisunsteadyfootsteps。
　　Whentheywereinthestreetsshesaid：`Idon’tknowwhatourlandlordwillsaytomybringingyouhomeinthisstate。Iexpectwearefastenedout，sothathe’llhavetocomedownandletusin。’
　　`Idon’tknow-Idon’tknow。’
　　`That’stheworstofnothavingahomeofyourown。Itellyou，Jude，whatwehadbestdo。Comeroundtomyfather’s-Imadeitupwithhimabitto-day。Icanletyouin，andnobodywillseeyouatall；andbyto-morrowmorningyou’llbeallright。’
　　`Anything-anywhere，’repliedJude。`Whatthedevildoesitmattertome？’
　　Theywentalongtogether，likeanyotherfuddlingcouple，herarmstillroundhiswaist，andhis，atlast，roundhers；thoughwithnoamatoryintent；butmerelybecausehewasweary，unstable，andinneedofsupport。
　　`This-isth’Martyrs’-burning-place，’hestammeredastheydraggedacrossabroadstreet。`Iremember-inoldFuller’sHolyState-andIamremindedofit-byourpassingbyhere-oldFullerinhisHolyStatesays，thatattheburningofRidley，DoctorSmith-preachedsermon，andtookashistext`ThoughIgivemybodytobeburned，andhavenotcharity，itprofitethmenothing。’-OftenthinkofitasIpasshere。Ridleywasa——’
　　`Yes。Exactly。Verythoughtfulofyou，deary，eventhoughithasn’tmuchtodowithourpresentbusiness。’
　　`Why，yesithas！I’mgivingmybodytobeburned！But-ah-
　　youdon’tunderstand！-itwantsSuetounderstandsuchthings！AndIwasherseducer-poorlittlegirl！Andshe’sgone-andIdon’tcareaboutmyself！Dowhatyoulikewithme！……Andyetshediditforconscience’
　　sake，poorlittleSue！’
　　`Hangher！-Imean，Ithinkshewasright，’hiccupedArabella。
　　`I’vemyfeelingstoo，likeher；andIfeelIbelongtoyouinHeaven’seye，andtonobodyelse，tilldeathusdopart！Itis-hic-nevertoolate-hictomend！’
　　Theyhadreachedherfather’shouse，andshesoftlyunfastenedthedoor，gropingaboutforalightwithin。
　　ThecircumstanceswerenotaltogetherunlikethoseoftheirentryintothecottageatCresscombe，suchalongtimebefore。NorwereperhapsArabella’smotives。ButJudedidnotthinkofthat，thoughshedid。
　　`Ican’tfindthematches，dear，’shesaidwhenshehadfastenedupthedoor。`Butnevermind-thisway。Asquietasyoucan，please。’
　　`Itisasdarkaspitch，’saidJude。
　　`Givemeyourhand，andI’llleadyou。That’sit。Justsitdownhere，andI’llpulloffyourboots。Idon’twanttowakehim。’
　　`Who？’
　　`Father。He’dmakearow，perhaps。’
　　Shepulledoffhisboots。`Now，’shewhispered，`takeholdofme-nevermindyourweight。Now-firststair，secondstair’
　　`But，-areweoutinouroldhousebyMarygreen？’askedthestupefiedJude。`Ihaven’tbeeninsideitforyearstillnow！Hey？Andwherearemybooks？That’swhatIwanttoknow？’
　　`Weareatmyhouse，dear，wherethere’snobodytospyouthowillyouare。Now-thirdstair，fourthstair-that’sit。Nowweshallgeton。’
　　JudetheObscureChapter49VI-viiArabellawaspreparingbreakfastinthedownstairsbackroomofthissmall，recentlyhiredtenementofherfather’s。Sheputherheadintothelittlepork-shopinfront，andtoldMr。Donnitwasready。Donn，endeavouringtolooklikeamasterpork-butcher，inagreasyblueblouse，andwithastraproundhiswaistfromwhichasteeldangled，cameinpromptly。