Jude the Obsure

"An apprentice's wages are not meant to be enough to keep a wife on,

as a rule, my dear."

"Then you shouldn't have had one."

"Come, Arabella! That's too bad, when you know how it came about."

"I'll declare afore Heaven that I thought what I told you was true.

Doctor Vilbert thought so. It was a good job for you that it wasn't

so!"

"I don't mean that," he said hastily. "I mean before that time.

I know it was not your fault; but those women friends of yours gave

you bad advice. If they hadn't, or you hadn't taken it, we should at

this moment have been free from a bond which, not to mince matters,

galls both of us devilishly. It may be very sad, but it is true."

"Who's been telling you about my friends? What advice? I insist

upon you telling me."

"Pooh--I'd rather not."

"But you shall--you ought to. It is mean of 'ee not to!"

"Very well." And he hinted gently what had been revealed to him.

"But I don't wish to dwell upon it. Let us say no more about it."

Her defensive manner collapsed. "That was nothing," she said,

laughing coldly. "Every woman has a right to do such as that. The

risk is hers."

"I quite deny it, Bella. She might if no lifelong penalty attached

to it for the man, or, in his default, for herself; if the weakness

of the moment could end with the moment, or even with the year.

But when effects stretch so far she should not go and do that which

entraps a man if he is honest, or herself if he is otherwise."

"What ought I to have done?"

"Given me time... Why do you fuss yourself about melting down that

pig's fat to-night? Please put it away!"

"Then I must do it to-morrow morning. It won't keep."

"Very well--do."

XI

Next morning, which was Sunday, she resumed operations about ten

o'clock; and the renewed work recalled the conversation which had

accompanied it the night before, and put her back into the same

intractable temper.

"That's the story about me in Marygreen, is it--that I entrapped 'ee?

Much of a catch you were, Lord send!" As she warmed she saw some of

Jude's dear ancient classics on a table where they ought not to have

been laid. "I won't have them books here in the way!" she cried

petulantly; and seizing them one by one she began throwing them upon

the floor.