Jude the Obsure

"Right you are. A contented mind is a continual feast. She has done

no better."

"She is not doing well, you mean?"

"I met her by accident at Kennetbridge this very day, and she is

anything but thriving. Her husband is ill, and she anxious. You

made a fool of a mistake about her, I tell 'ee again, and the harm

you did yourself by dirting your own nest serves you right, excusing

the liberty."

"How?"

"She was innocent."

"But nonsense! They did not even defend the case!"

"That was because they didn't care to. She was quite innocent of

what obtained you your freedom, at the time you obtained it. I saw

her just afterwards, and proved it to myself completely by talking to

her."

Phillotson grasped the edge of the spring-cart, and appeared to be

much stressed and worried by the information. "Still--she wanted to

go," he said.

"Yes. But you shouldn't have let her. That's the only way with

these fanciful women that chaw high--innocent or guilty. She'd have

come round in time. We all do! Custom does it! It's all the same

in the end! However, I think she's fond of her man still--whatever

he med be of her. You were too quick about her. _I_ shouldn't

have let her go! I should have kept her chained on--her spirit for

kicking would have been broke soon enough! There's nothing like

bondage and a stone-deaf taskmaster for taming us women. Besides,

you've got the laws on your side. Moses knew. Don't you call to

mind what he says?"

"Not for the moment, ma'am, I regret to say."

"Call yourself a schoolmaster! I used to think o't when they read

it in church, and I was carrying on a bit. 'Then shall the man be

guiltless; but the woman shall bear her iniquity.' Damn rough on us

women; but we must grin and put up wi' it! Haw haw! Well; she's got

her deserts now."

"Yes," said Phillotson, with biting sadness. "Cruelty is the law

pervading all nature and society; and we can't get out of it if we

would!"

"Well--don't you forget to try it next time, old man."

"I cannot answer you, madam. I have never known much of womankind."

They had now reached the low levels bordering Alfredston, and passing

through the outskirts approached a mill, to which Phillotson said his

errand led him; whereupon they drew up, and he alighted, bidding them

good-night in a preoccupied mood.