Jude the Obsure

"As he is a romancing, straightfor'ard, honest chap, he's to be had,

and as a husband, if you set about catching him in the right way."

Arabella remained thinking awhile. "What med be the right way?" she

asked.

"Oh you don't know--you don't!" said Sarah, the third girl.

"On my word I don't!--No further, that is, than by plain courting,

and taking care he don't go too far!"

The third girl looked at the second. "She DON'T know!"

"'Tis clear she don't!" said Anny.

"And having lived in a town, too, as one may say! Well, we can teach

'ee som'at then, as well as you us."

"Yes. And how do you mean--a sure way to gain a man? Take me for an

innocent, and have done wi' it!"

"As a husband."

"As a husband."

"A countryman that's honourable and serious-minded such as he; God

forbid that I should say a sojer, or sailor, or commercial gent from

the towns, or any of them that be slippery with poor women! I'd do

no friend that harm!"

"Well, such as he, of course!"

Arabella's companions looked at each other, and turning up their eyes

in drollery began smirking. Then one went up close to Arabella, and,

although nobody was near, imparted some information in a low tone,

the other observing curiously the effect upon Arabella.

"Ah!" said the last-named slowly. "I own I didn't think of that

way! ... But suppose he ISN'T honourable? A woman had better not

have tried it!"

"Nothing venture nothing have! Besides, you make sure that he's

honourable before you begin. You'd be safe enough with yours. I

wish I had the chance! Lots of girls do it; or do you think they'd

get married at all?"

Arabella pursued her way in silent thought. "I'll try it!" she

whispered; but not to them.

VIII

One week's end Jude was as usual walking out to his aunt's at

Marygreen from his lodging in Alfredston, a walk which now had large

attractions for him quite other than his desire to see his aged and

morose relative. He diverged to the right before ascending the hill

with the single purpose of gaining, on his way, a glimpse of Arabella

that should not come into the reckoning of regular appointments.

Before quite reaching the homestead his alert eye perceived the top

of her head moving quickly hither and thither over the garden hedge.

Entering the gate he found that three young unfattened pigs had

escaped from their sty by leaping clean over the top, and that she

was endeavouring unassisted to drive them in through the door which

she had set open. The lines of her countenance changed from the

rigidity of business to the softness of love when she saw Jude, and

she bent her eyes languishingly upon him. The animals took advantage

of the pause by doubling and bolting out of the way.