"I don't know but I ought," murmured she.
Anny laughed. "That's you, Arabella! Always wanting another man
than your own."
"Well, and what woman don't I should like to know? As for that body
with him--she don't know what love is--at least what I call love! I
can see in her face she don't."
"And perhaps, Abby dear, you don't know what she calls love."
"I'm sure I don't wish to! ... Ah--they are making for the art
department. I should like to see some pictures myself. Suppose
we go that way?-- Why, if all Wessex isn't here, I verily believe!
There's Dr. Vilbert. Haven't seen him for years, and he's not
looking a day older than when I used to know him. How do you do,
Physician? I was just saying that you don't look a day older than
when you knew me as a girl."
"Simply the result of taking my own pills regular, ma'am. Only two
and threepence a box--warranted efficacious by the Government stamp.
Now let me advise you to purchase the same immunity from the ravages
of time by following my example? Only two-and-three."
The physician had produced a box from his waistcoat pocket, and
Arabella was induced to make the purchase.
"At the same time," continued he, when the pills were paid for, "you
have the advantage of me, Mrs.-- Surely not Mrs. Fawley, once Miss
Donn, of the vicinity of Marygreen?"
"Yes. But Mrs. Cartlett now."
"Ah--you lost him, then? Promising young fellow! A pupil of mine,
you know. I taught him the dead languages. And believe me, he soon
knew nearly as much as I."
"I lost him; but not as you think," said Arabella dryly. "The
lawyers untied us. There he is, look, alive and lusty; along with
that young woman, entering the art exhibition."
"Ah--dear me! Fond of her, apparently."
"They SAY they are cousins."
"Cousinship is a great convenience to their feelings, I should say?"
"Yes. So her husband thought, no doubt, when he divorced
her... Shall we look at the pictures, too?"
The trio followed across the green and entered. Jude and Sue, with
the child, unaware of the interest they were exciting, had gone
up to a model at one end of the building, which they regarded
with considerable attention for a long while before they went
on. Arabella and her friends came to it in due course, and the
inscription it bore was: "Model of Cardinal College, Christminster;
by J. Fawley and S. F. M. Bridehead."