anditwaswithasenseoffutilitythathethrewintohisbasketuponhistoolsandothernecessariestheunreadbookhehadbroughtwithhim。
　　Hekepthisimpassioneddoingsasecretalmostfromhimself。Arabella，onthecontrary，madethempublicamongallherfriendsandacquaintance。
　　Retracingbythelightofdawntheroadhehadfollowedafewhoursearlierundercoverofdarkness，withhissweetheartbyhisside，hereachedthebottomofthehill，wherehewalkedslowly，andstoodstill。
　　Hewasonthespotwherehehadgivenherthefirstkiss。Asthesunhadonlyjustrisenitwaspossiblethatnobodyhadpassedtheresince。Judelookedonthegroundandsighed。Helookedclosely，andcouldjustdiscerninthedampdusttheimprintsoftheirfeetastheyhadstoodlockedineachother’sarms。Shewasnottherenow，and`theembroideryofimaginationuponthestuffofnature’sodepictedherpastpresencethatavoidwasinhisheartwhichnothingcouldfill。Apollardwillowstoodclosetotheplace，andthatwillowwasdifferentfromallotherwillowsintheworld。Utterannihilationofthesixdayswhichmustelapsebeforehecouldseeheragainashehadpromisedwouldhavebeenhisintensestwishifhehadhadonlytheweektolive。
　　AnhourandahalflaterArabellacamealongthesamewaywithhertwocompanionsoftheSaturday。Shepassedunheedinglythesceneofthekiss，andthewillowthatmarkedit，thoughchatteringfreelyonthesubjecttotheothertwo。
　　`Andwhatdidhetell’eenext？’
　　`Thenhesaid-`Andsherelatedalmostwordforwordsomeofhistenderestspeeches。IfJudehadbeenbehindthefencehewouldhavefeltnotalittlesurprisedatlearninghowveryfewofhissayingsanddoingsonthepreviouseveningwereprivate。
　　`You’vegothimtocarefor’eeabit，’nationifyouhan’t！’
　　murmuredAnnyjudicially。`It’swelltobeyou！’
　　InafewmomentsArabellarepliedinacuriouslylow，hungrytoneoflatentsensuousness：`I’vegothimtocareforme：yes！ButIwanthimtomorethancareforme；Iwanthimtohaveme-tomarryme！Imusthavehim。Ican’tdowithouthim。He’sthesortofmanIlongfor。IshallgomadifIcan’tgivemyselftohimaltogether！IfeltIshouldwhenIfirstsawhim！’
　　`Asheisaromancing，straightfor’ard，honestchap，he’stobehad，andasahusband，ifyousetaboutcatchinghimintherightway。’
　　Arabellaremainedthinkingawhile。`Whatmedbetherightway？’
　　sheasked。
　　`Ohyoudon’tknow-youdon’t！’saidSarah，thethirdgirl。
　　`OnmywordIdon’t！-Nofurther，thatis，thanbyplaincourting，andtakingcarehedon’tgotoofar！’
　　Thethirdgirllookedatthesecond。`Shedon’tknow！’
　　`’Tisclearshedon’t！’saidAnny。
　　`Andhavinglivedinatown，too，asonemaysay！Well，wecanteach’eesom’atthen，aswellasyouus。’
　　`Yes。Andhowdoyoumean-asurewaytogainaman？Takemeforaninnocent，andhavedonewi’it！’
　　`Asahusband。’
　　`Asahusband。’
　　`Acountrymanthat’shonourableandserious-mindedsuchashe；
　　GodforbidthatIshouldsayasojer，orsailor，orcommercialgentfromthetowns，oranyofthemthatbeslipperywithpoorwomen！I’ddonofriendthatharm！’
　　`Well，suchashe，ofcourse！’
　　Arabella’scompanionslookedateachother，andturninguptheireyesindrollerybegansmirking。ThenonewentupclosetoArabella，and，althoughnobodywasnear，impartedsomeinformationinalowtone，theotherobservingcuriouslytheeffectuponArabella。
　　`Ah！’saidthelast-namedslowly。`IownIdidn’tthinkofthatway！……Butsupposeheisn’thonourable？Awomanhadbetternothavetriedit！’
　　`Nothingventurenothinghave！Besides，youmakesurethathe’shonourablebeforeyoubegin。You’dbesafeenoughwithyours。IwishI
　　hadthechance！Lotsofgirlsdoit；ordoyouthinkthey’dgetmarriedatall？’
　　Arabellapursuedherwayinsilentthought。`I’lltryit！’shewhispered；butnottothem。
　　FootnoteIntheprintedbookthisisGreek：eta，kappa，alpha，iota，nu，eta，delta，iota，alpha，theta，eta，kappa，etaJudetheObscureChapter08I-viiiOneweek’sendJudewasasusualwalkingouttohisaunt’satMarygreenfromhislodginginAlfredston，awalkwhichnowhadlargeattractionsforhimquiteotherthanhisdesiretoseehisagedandmoroserelative。
　　Hedivergedtotherightbeforeascendingthehillwiththesinglepurposeofgaining，onhisway，aglimpseofArabellathatshouldnotcomeintothereckoningofregularappointments。Beforequitereachingthehomesteadhisalerteyeperceivedthetopofherheadmovingquicklyhitherandthitheroverthegardenhedge。Enteringthegatehefoundthatthreeyoungunfattenedpigshadescapedfromtheirstybyleapingcleanoverthetop，andthatshewasendeavouringunassistedtodrivetheminthroughthedoorwhichshehadsetopen。ThelinesofhercountenancechangedfromtherigidityofbusinesstothesoftnessoflovewhenshesawJude，andshebenthereyeslanguishinglyuponhim。Theanimalstookavantageofthepausebydoublingandboltingoutoftheway。
　　`Theywereonlyputinthismorning！’shecried，stimulatedtopursueinspiteofherlover’spresence。TheyweredrovefromSpaddleholtFarmonlyyesterday，whereFatherbought’ematastiffpriceenough。Theyarewantingtogethomeagain，thestupidtoads！Willyoushutthegardengate，dear，andhelpmetoget’emin。Therearenomenfolkathome，onlyMother，andthey’llbelostifwedon’tmind。’
　　Hesethimselftoassist，anddodgedthiswayandthatoverthepotatorowsandthecabbages。Everynowandthentheyrantogether，whenhecaughtherforamomentankissedher。Thefirstpigwasgotbackpromptly；
　　thesecondwithsomedifficulty；thethirdalong-leggedcreature，wasmoreobstinateandagile。Heplungedthroughaholeinthegardenhedge，andintothelane。
　　`He’llbelostifIdon’tfollow’n！’saidshe。`Comealongwithme！’
　　Sherushedinfullpursuitoutofthegarden，Judealongsideher，barelycontrivingtokeepthefugitiveinsight。Occasionallytheywouldshouttosomeboytostoptheanimal，buthealwayswriggledpastandranonasbefore。
　　`Letmetakeyourhand，darling，’saidJude。`Youaregettingoutofbreath。’Shegavehimhernowhothandwithapparentwillingness，andtheytrottedalongtogether。
　　`Thiscomesofdriving’emhome，’sheremarked。`Theyalwaysknowthewaybackifyoudothat。Theyoughttohavebeencartedover。’
　　Bythistimethepighadreachedanunfastenedgateadmittingtotheopendown，acrosswhichhespedwithalltheagilityhislittlelegsafforded。Assoonasthepursuershadenteredandascendedtothetopofthehighgrounditbecameapparentthattheywouldhavetorunallthewaytothefarmer’siftheywishedtogetathim。Fromthissummithecouldbeseenasaminutespeck，followinganunerringlinetowardshisoldhome。
　　`Itisnogood！’criedArabella。`He’llbetherelongbeforewegetthere。Itdon’tmatternowweknowhe’snotlostorstolenontheway。
　　They’llseeitisours，andsendunback。Ohdear，howhotIbe！’
　　WithoutrelinquishingherholdofJude’shandsheswervedasideandflungherselfdownonthesodunderastuntedthorn，precipitatelypullingJudeontohiskneesatthesametime。
　　`Oh，Iaskpardon-Inearlythrewyoudown，didn’tI！ButIamsotired！’
　　Shelaysupine，andstraightasanarrow，ontheslopingsodofthishill-top，gazingupintothebluemilesofsky，andstillretainingherwarmholdofJude’shand。Hereclinedonhiselbownearher。
　　`We’verunallthiswayfornothing，’shewenton，herformheavingandfallinginquickpants，herfaceflushed，herfullredlipsparted，andafinedewofperspirationonherskin。`Well-whydon’tyouspeak，deary？’
　　`I’mblowntoo。Itwasalluphill。’
　　Theywereinabsolutesolitude-themostapparentofallsolitudes，thatofemptysurroundingspace。Nobodycouldbenearerthanamiletothemwithouttheirseeinghim。Theywere，infact，ononeofthesummitsofthecounty，andthedistantlandscapearoundChristminstercouldbediscernedfromwheretheylay。ButJudedidnotthinkofthatthen。
　　`Oh，Icanseesuchaprettythingupthistree，’saidArabella。
　　`Asortofa-caterpillar，ofthemostloveliestgreenandyellowyouevercameacross！’
　　`Where？’saidJude，sittingup。
　　`Youcan’tseehimthere-youmustcomehere，’saidshe。
　　Hebentnearerandputhisheadinfrontofhers。`No-Ican’tseeit，’hesaid。
　　`Why，onthelimbtherewhereitbranchesoff-closetothemovingleaf-there！’Shegentlypulledhimdownbesideher。
　　`Idon’tseeit，’herepeated，thebackofhisheadagainsthercheek。`ButIcan，perhaps，standingup。’Hestoodaccordingly，placinghimselfinthedirectlineofhergaze。
　　`Howstupidyouare！’shesaidcrossly，turningawayherface。
　　`Idon’tcaretoseeit，dear：whyshouldI？’herepliedlookingdownuponher。`Getup，Abby。’
　　`Why？’
　　`Iwantyoutoletmekissyou。I’vebeenwaitingtoeversolong！’
　　Sherolledroundherface，remainedamomentlookingdeedilyaslantathim；thenwithaslightcurlofthelipsprangtoherfeet，andexclaimingabruptly`Imustmizzle！’walkedoffquicklyhomeward。Judefollowedandrejoinedher。
　　`Justone！’hecoaxed`Shan’t！’shesaidHe，surprised：`What’sthematter？’
　　Shekepthertwolipsresentfullytogether，andJudefollowedherlikeapetlambtillsheslackenedherpaceandwalkedbesidehim，talkingcalmlyonindifferentsubjects，andalwayscheckinghimifhetriedtotakeherhandorclaspherwaist。Thustheydescendedtotheprecinctsofherfather’shomestead，andArabellawentin，noddinggood-byetohimwithasupercilious，affrontedair。
　　`IexpectItooktoomuchlibertywithher，somehow，’Judesaidtohimself，ashewithdrewwithasighandwentontoMarygreen。
　　OnSundaymorningtheinteriorofArabella’shomewas，asusual，thesceneofagrandweeklycooking，thepreparationofthespecialSundaydinner。Herfatherwasshavingbeforealittleglasshungonthemullionofthewindow，andhermotherandArabellaherselfwereshellingbeanshardby。Aneighbourpassedonherwayhomefrommorningserviceatthenearestchurch，andseeingDonnengagedatthewindowwiththerazor，noddedandcamein。
　　SheatoncespokeplayfullytoArabella：`Izeed’eerunningwith’un-hee-hee！Ihope’tiscomingtosomething？’
　　Arabellamerelythrewalookofconsciousnessintoherfacewithoutraisinghereyes。
　　`He’sforChristminster，Ihear，assoonashecangetthere。’
　　`Haveyouheardthatlately-quitelately？’askedArabellawithajealous，tigerishindrawingofbreath。
　　`Ohno！Butithasbeenknownalongtimethatitishisplan。
　　He’son’ywaitinghereforanopening。Ahwell：hemustwalkaboutwithsomebody，Is’pose。Youngmendon’tmeanmuchnow-a-days。’Tisasiphereandasiptherewith’em。’Twasdifferentinmytime。’
　　WhenthegossiphaddepartedArabellasaidsuddenlytohermother：
　　`IwantyouandFathertogoandinquirehowtheEdlinsbe，thiseveningaftertea。Orno-there’seveningserviceatFensworth-youcanwalktothat。’
　　`Oh？What’supto-night，then？’
　　`Nothing。OnlyIwantthehousetomyself。He’sshy；andIcan’tgetuntocomeinwhenyouarehere。IshalllethimslipthroughmyfingersifIdon’tmind，muchasIcarefor’n！’
　　`Ifitisfinewemedaswellgo，sinceyouwish。’
　　IntheafternoonArabellametandwalkedwithJude，whohadnowforweeksceasedtolookintoabookofGreek，Latin，oranyothertongue。
　　Theywandereduptheslopestilltheyreachedthegreentrackalongtheridge，whichtheyfollowedtothecircularBritishearth-bankadjoining，Judethinkingofthegreatageofthetrackway，andofthedroverswhohadfrequentedit，probablybeforetheRomansknewthecountry。Upfromthelevellandsbelowthemfloatedthechimeofchurchbells。Presentlytheywerereducedtoonenote，whichquickened，andstopped。
　　`Nowwe’llgoback，’saidArabella，whohadattendedtothesounds。
　　Judeassented。Solongashewasnearherhemindedlittlewherehewas。Whentheyarrivedatherhousehesaidlingeringly：`Iwon’tcomein。Whyareyouinsuchahurrytogointo-night？Itisnotneardark。’
　　`Waitamoment，’saidshe。Shetriedthehandleofthedoorandfounditlocked。
　　`Ah-theyaregonetochurch，’sheadded。Andsearchingbehindthescrapershefoundthekeyandunlockedthedoor。`Now，you’llcomeinamoment？’sheaskedlightly。`Weshallbeallalone。’
　　`Certainly，’saidJudewithalacrity，thecasebeingunexpectedlyaltered。
　　Indoorstheywent。Didhewantanytea？No，itwastoolate：hewouldrathersitandtalktoher。Shetookoffherjacketandhat，andtheysatdown-naturallyenoughclosetogether。
　　`Don’ttouchme，please，’shesaidsoftly。`Iampartegg-shell。
　　OrperhapsIhadbetterputitinasafeplace。’Shebeganunfasteningthecollarofhergown。
　　`Whatisit？’saidherlover。
　　`Anegg-acochin’segg。Iamhatchingaveryraresort。Icarryitabouteverywherewithme，anditwillgethatchedinlessthanthreeweeks。’
　　`Wheredoyoucarryit？’
　　`Justhere。’Sheputherhandintoherbosomanddrewouttheegg，whichwaswrappedinwool，outsideitbeingapieceofpig’sbladder，incaseofaccidents。Havingexhibitedittohimsheputitback，`Nowmindyoudon’tcomenearme。Idon’twanttogetitbroke，andhavetobeginanother。’
　　`Whydoyoudosuchastrangething？’
　　`It’sanoldcustom。Isupposeitisnaturalforawomantowanttobringlivethingsintotheworld。’
　　`Itisveryawkwardformejustnow，’hesaid，laughing。
　　`Itservesyouright。There-that’sallyoucanhaveofme’
　　Shehadturnedroundherchair，and，reachingoverthebackofit，presentedhercheektohimgingerly。
　　`That’sveryshabbyofyou！’
　　`YoushouldhavecatchedmeaminuteagowhenIhadputtheeggdown！There！’shesaiddefiantly，`Iamwithoutitnow！’Shehadquicklywithdrawntheeggasecondtime；butbeforehecouldquitereachhershehadputitbackasquickly，laughingwiththeexcitementofherstrategy。
　　Thentherewasalittlestruggle，Judemakingaplungeforitandcapturingittriumphantly。Herfaceflushed；andbecomingsuddenlyconsciousheflushedalso。
　　Theylookedateachother，panting；tillheroseandsaid：`Onekiss，nowIcandoitwithoutdamagetoproperty；andI’llgo！’
　　Butshehadjumpeduptoo。`Youmustfindmefirst！’shecried。
　　Herloverfollowedherasshewithdrew。Itwasnowdarkinsidetheroom，andthewindowbeingsmallhecouldnotdiscoverforalongtimewhathadbecomeofher，tillalaughrevealedhertohaverushedupthestairs，whitherJuderushedatherheels。