Jude the Obsure

The cathedral bell close at hand was sounding for five o'clock

service.

"I should not mind having a spin there with a fellow's arm round my

waist," she said to one of the men. "But Lord, I must be getting

home again--there's a lot to do. No dancing for me!"

When she reached home she was met at the door by Stagg, and one or

two other of Jude's fellow stoneworkers. "We are just going down

to the river," said the former, "to see the boat-bumping. But we've

called round on our way to ask how your husband is."

"He's sleeping nicely, thank you," said Arabella.

"That's right. Well now, can't you give yourself half an hour's

relaxation, Mrs. Fawley, and come along with us? 'Twould do you

good."

"I should like to go," said she. "I've never seen the boat-racing,

and I hear it is good fun."

"Come along!"

"How I WISH I could!" She looked longingly down the street. "Wait

a minute, then. I'll just run up and see how he is now. Father is

with him, I believe; so I can most likely come."

They waited, and she entered. Downstairs the inmates were absent

as before, having, in fact, gone in a body to the river where the

procession of boats was to pass. When she reached the bedroom she

found that her father had not even now come.

"Why couldn't he have been here!" she said impatiently. "He wants to

see the boats himself--that's what it is!"

However, on looking round to the bed she brightened, for she saw

that Jude was apparently sleeping, though he was not in the usual

half-elevated posture necessitated by his cough. He had slipped

down, and lay flat. A second glance caused her to start, and she

went to the bed. His face was quite white, and gradually becoming

rigid. She touched his fingers; they were cold, though his body was

still warm. She listened at his chest. All was still within. The

bumping of near thirty years had ceased.

After her first appalled sense of what had happened the faint notes

of a military or other brass band from the river reached her ears;

and in a provoked tone she exclaimed, "To think he should die just

now! Why did he die just now!" Then meditating another moment or

two she went to the door, softly closed it as before, and again

descended the stairs.

"Here she is!" said one of the workmen. "We wondered if you were

coming after all. Come along; we must be quick to get a good

place... Well, how is he? Sleeping well still? Of course, we don't

want to drag 'ee away if--"