"Beer, oh yes. I had forgotten that. Somehow it seems odd to come

to a public-house for beer on a Sunday evening."

"But we didn't."

"No, we didn't." Jude by this time wished he was out of such an

uncongenial atmosphere; but he ordered the beer, which was promptly

brought.

Arabella tasted it. "Ugh!" she said.

Jude tasted. "What's the matter with it?" he asked. "I don't

understand beer very much now, it is true. I like it well enough,

but it is bad to read on, and I find coffee better. But this seems

all right."

"Adulterated--I can't touch it!" She mentioned three or four

ingredients that she detected in the liquor beyond malt and hops,

much to Jude's surprise.

"How much you know!" he said good-humouredly.

Nevertheless she returned to the beer and drank her share, and they

went on their way. It was now nearly dark, and as soon as they had

withdrawn from the lights of the town they walked closer together,

till they touched each other. She wondered why he did not put his

arm round her waist, but he did not; he merely said what to himself

seemed a quite bold enough thing: "Take my arm."

She took it, thoroughly, up to the shoulder. He felt the warmth of

her body against his, and putting his stick under his other arm held

with his right hand her right as it rested in its place.

"Now we are well together, dear, aren't we?" he observed.

"Yes," said she; adding to herself: "Rather mild!"

"How fast I have become!" he was thinking.

Thus they walked till they reached the foot of the upland, where they

could see the white highway ascending before them in the gloom. From

this point the only way of getting to Arabella's was by going up the

incline, and dipping again into her valley on the right. Before they

had climbed far they were nearly run into by two men who had been

walking on the grass unseen.

"These lovers--you find 'em out o' doors in all seasons and

weathers--lovers and homeless dogs only," said one of the men as

they vanished down the hill.

Arabella tittered lightly.

"Are we lovers?" asked Jude.

"You know best."

"But you can tell me?"

For answer she inclined her head upon his shoulder. Jude took the

hint, and encircling her waist with his arm, pulled her to him and

kissed her.




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