`Ido，Ido！Cleverwoman！Butyoumustbepreparedfortheconsequences。’
　　Puttinghisarmroundhershouldershekissedherthereandthen。
　　`Don’tdon’t，’shewhispered，laughinggood-humouredly。`Mymanwillhear。’
　　Shelethimoutofthehouse，andasshewentbackshesaidtoherself：`Well！Weakwomenmustprovideforarainyday。Andifmypoorfellowupstairsdogooff-asIsupposehewillsoon-it’swelltokeepchancesopen。AndIcan’tpickandchoosenowasIcouldwhenIwasyounger。
　　Andonemusttaketheoldifonecan’tgettheyoung。’
　　JudetheObscureChapter53VI-xiThelastpagestowhichthechronicleroftheseliveswouldaskthereader’sattentionareconcernedwiththesceneinandoutofJude’sbedroomwhenleafysummercameroundagain。
　　Hisfacewasnowsothinthathisoldfriendswouldhardlyhaveknownhim。Itwasafternoon，andArabellawasatthelooking-glasscurlingherhair，whichoperationsheperformedbyheatinganumbrella-stayintheflameofacandleshehadlighted，andusingitupontheflowinglock。
　　Whenshehadfinishedthis，practisedadimple，andputonherthings，shecasthereyesrounduponJude。Heseemedtobesleeping，thoughhispositionwasanelevatedone，hismaladypreventinghimlyingdown。
　　Arabella，hatted，gloved，andready，satdownandwaited，asifexpectingsomeonetocomeandtakeherplaceasnurse。
　　Certainsoundsfromwithoutrevealedthatthetownwasinfestivity，thoughlittleofthefestival，whateveritmighthavebeen，couldbeseenhere。Bellsbegantoring，andthenotescameintotheroomthroughtheopenwindow，andtravelledroundJude’sheadinahum。Theymadeherrestless，andatlastshesaidtoherself：`Whyeverdoesn’tFathercome！’
　　ShelookedagainatJude，criticallygaugedhisebbinglife，asshehaddonesomanytimesduringthelatemonths，andglancingathiswatch，whichwashungupbywayoftimepiece，roseimpatiently。Stillheslept，andcomingtoaresolutionsheslippedfromtheroom，closedthedoornoiselessly，anddescendedthestairs。Thehousewasempty。TheattractionwhichmovedArabellatogoabroadhadevidentlydrawnawaytheotherinmateslongbefore。
　　Itwasawarm，cloudless，enticingday。Sheshutthefrontdoor，andhastenedroundintoChiefStreet，andwhennearthetheatrecouldhearthenotesoftheorgan，arehearsalforacomingconcertbeinginprogress。
　　SheenteredunderthearchwayofOldgateCollege，wheremenwereputtingupawningsroundthequadrangleforaballinthehallthatevening。Peoplewhohadcomeupfromthecountryforthedaywerepicnickingonthegrass，andArabellawalkedalongthegravelpathsandundertheagedlimes。Butfindingthisplaceratherdullshereturnedtothestreets，andwatchedthecarriagesdrawingupfortheconcert，numerousdonsandtheirwives，andundergraduateswithgayfemalecompanions，crowdinguplikewise。Whenthedoorswereclosed，andtheconcertbegan，shemovedon。
　　Thepowerfulnotesofthatconcertrolledforththroughtheswingingyellowblindsoftheopenwindows，overthehousetops，andintothestillairofthelanes。TheyreachedsofarastotheroominwhichJudelay；
　　anditwasaboutthistimethathiscoughbeganagainandawakenedhim。
　　Assoonashecouldspeakhemurmured，hiseyesstillclosed：
　　`Alittlewater，please。’
　　Nothingbutthedesertedroomreceivedhisappeal，andhecoughedtoexhaustionagain-sayingstillmorefeebly：`Water-somewater-Sue-Arabella！’
　　Theroomremainedstillasbefore。Presentlyhegaspedagain：
　　`Throat-water-Sue-darling-dropofwater-please-ohplease！’
　　Nowatercame，andtheorgannotes，faintasabee’shum，rolledinasbefore。
　　Whileheremained，hisfacechanging，shoutsandhurrahscamefromsomewhereinthedirectionoftheriver。
　　`Ah-yes！TheRemembrancegames，’hemurmured。`AndIhere。AndSuedefiled！’
　　Thehurrahswererepeated，drowningthefaintorgannotes。Jude’sfacechangedmore：hewhisperedslowly，hisparchedlipsscarcelymoving：
　　`LetthedayperishwhereinIwasborn，andthenightinwhichitwassaid，thereisAman-childconceived。’
　　`Hurrah！’
　　`Letthatdaybedarkness；letnotgodregarditfromabove，neitherletthelightshineuponit。Lo，letthatnightbesolitary，letnojoyfulvoicecometherein。’
　　`Hurrah！’
　　`WhydiedInotfromthewomb？WhydidInotgiveuptheghostwhenIcameoutofthebelly？……FornowshouldIhavelainstillandbeenquiet。Ishouldhaveslept：thenhadIbeenatrest！’
　　`Hurrah！’
　　`Theretheprisonersresttogether；theyhearnotthevoiceoftheoppressor……thesmallandthegreatarethere；andtheservantisfreefromhismaster。Whereforeislightgiventohimthatisinmisery，andlifeuntothebitterinsoul？’
　　MeanwhileArabella，inherjourneytodiscoverwhatwasgoingon，tookashortcutdownanarrowstreetandthroughanobscurenookintothequadofCardinal。Itwasfullofbustle，andbrilliantinthesunlightwithflowersandotherpreparationsforaballherealso。Acarpenternoddedtoher，onewhohadformerlybeenafellow-workmanofJude’s。Acorridorwasincourseoferectionfromtheentrancetothehallstaircase，ofgayredandbuffbunting。Waggon-loadsofboxescontainingbrightplantsinfullbloomwerebeingplacedabout，andthegreatstaircasewascoveredwithredcloth。Shenoddedtooneworkmanandanother，andascendedtothehallonthestrengthoftheiracquaintance，wheretheywereputtingdownanewflooranddecoratingforthedance。
　　Thecathedralbellcloseathandwassoundingforfiveo’clockservice。
　　`Ishouldnotmindhavingaspintherewithafellow’sarmroundmywaist，’shesaidtooneofthemen。`ButLord，Imustbegettinghomeagain-there’salottodo。Nodancingforme！’
　　WhenshereachedhomeshewasmetatthedoorbyStagg，andoneortwootherofJude’sfellowstoneworkers。`Wearejustgoingdowntotheriver，’saidtheformer，`toseetheboat-bumping。Butwe’vecalledroundonourwaytoaskhowyourhusbandis。’
　　`He’ssleepingnicely，thankyou，’saidArabella。
　　`That’sright。Wellnow，can’tyougiveyourselfhalfanhour’srelaxation，Mrs。Fawley，andcomealongwithus？’Twoulddoyougood。’
　　`Ishouldliketogo，’saidshe。`I’veneverseentheboat-racing，andIhearitisgoodfun。’
　　`Comealong！’
　　`HowIwishIcould！’Shelookedlonginglydownthestreet。
　　`Waitaminute，then。I’lljustrunupandseehowheisnow。Fatheriswithhim，Ibelieve；soIcanmostlikelycome。’
　　Theywaited，andsheentered。Downstairstheinmateswereabsentasbefore，having，infact，goneinabodytotheriverwheretheprocessionofboatswastopass。Whenshereachedthebedroomshefoundthatherfatherhadnotevennowcome。
　　`Whycouldn’thehavebeenhere！’shesaidimpatiently。`Hewantstoseetheboatshimself-that’swhatitis！’
　　However，onlookingroundtothebedshebrightened，forshesawthatJudewasapparentlysleeping，thoughhewasnotintheusualhalf-elevatedposturenecessitatedbyhiscough。Hehadslippeddown，andlayflat。A
　　secondglancecausedhertostart，andshewenttothebed。Hisfacewasquitewhite，andgraduallybecomingrigid。Shetouchedhisfingers；theywerecold，thoughhisbodywasstillwarm。Shelistenedathischest。Allwasstillwithin。Thebumpingofnearthirtyyearshadceased。
　　Afterherfirstappalledsenseofwhathadhappenedthefaintnotesofamilitaryorotherbrassbandfromtheriverreachedherears；
　　andinaprovokedtonesheexclaimed，`Tothinkheshoulddiejustnow！
　　Whydidhediejustnow！’Thenmeditatinganothermomentortwoshewenttothedoor，softlycloseditasbefore，andagaindescendedthestairs。
　　`Heresheis！’saidoneoftheworkmen。`Wewonderedifyouwerecomingafterall。Comealong；wemustbequicktogetagoodplace……
　　Well，howishe？Sleepingwellstill？Ofcourse，wedon’twanttodrag’eeawayif-’
　　`Ohyes-sleepingquitesound。Hewon’twakeyet，’shesaidhurriedly。
　　TheywentwiththecrowddownCardinalStreet，wheretheypresentlyreachedthebridge，andthegaybargesburstupontheirview。Thencetheypassedbyanarrowslitdowntotheriversidepath-nowdusty，hot，andthronged。Almostassoonastheyhadarrivedthegrandprocessionofboatsbegan；theoarssmackingwithaloudkissonthefaceofthestream，astheywereloweredfromtheperpendicular。
　　`Oh，Isay-howjolly！I’mgladI’vecome，’saidArabella。`And-itcan’thurtmyhusband-mybeingaway。’
　　Ontheoppositesideoftheriver，onthecrowdedbarges，weregorgeousnosegaysoffemininebeauty，fashionablyarrayedingreen，pink，blue，andwhite。Theblueflagoftheboatclubdenotedthecentreofinterest，beneathwhichabandinreduniformgaveoutthenotesshehadalreadyheardinthedeath-chamber。Collegiansofallsorts，incanoeswithladies，watchingkeenlyfor`our’boat，dartedupanddown。WhilesheregardedthelivelyscenesomebodytouchedArabellaintheribs，andlookingroundshesawVilbert。
　　`Thatphiltreisoperating，youknow！’hesaidwithaleer。`Shameon’eetowreckaheartso！’
　　`Ishan’ttalkofloveto-day。’
　　`Whynot？Itisageneralholiday。’
　　Shedidnotreply。Vilbert’sarmstoleroundherwaist，whichactcouldbeperformedunobservedinthecrowd。AnarchexpressionoverspreadArabella’sfaceatthefeelofthearm，butshekepthereyesontheriverasifshedidnotknowoftheembrace。
　　Thecrowdsurged，pushingArabellaandherfriendssometimesnearlyintotheriver，andshewouldhavelaughedheartilyatthehorse-playthatsucceeded，iftheimprintonhermind’seyeofapale，statuesquecountenanceshehadlatelygazeduponhadnotsoberedheralittle。
　　Thefunonthewaterreachedtheacmeofexcitement；therewereimmersions，therewereshouts：theracewaslostandwon，thepinkandblueandyellowladiesretiredfromthebarges，andthepeoplewhohadwatchedbegantomove。
　　`Well-it’sbeenawfullygood，’criedArabella。`ButIthinkImustgetbacktomypoorman。Fatheristhere，sofarasIknow；butIhadbettergetback。’
　　`What’syourhurry？’
　　`Well，Imustgo……Dear，dear，thisisawkward！’
　　Atthenarrowgangwaywherethepeopleascendedfromtheriversidepathtothebridgethecrowdwasliterallyjammedintoonehotmass-ArabellaandVilbertwiththerest；andheretheyremainedmotionless，Arabellaexclaiming，`Dear，dear！’moreandmoreimpatiently；forithadjustoccurredtohermindthatifJudewerediscoveredtohavediedaloneaninquestmightbedeemednecessary。
　　`Whatafidgetyouare，mylove，’saidthephysician，who，beingpressedcloseagainstherbythethrong，hadnoneedofpersonaleffortforcontact。`Justaswellhavepatience：there’snogettingawayyet！’
　　Itwasnearlytenminutesbeforethewedgedmultitudemovedsufficientlytoletthempassthrough。AssoonasshegotupintothestreetArabellahastenedon，forbiddingthephysiciantoaccompanyherfurtherthatday。
　　Shedidnotgostraighttoherhouse；buttotheabodeofawomanwhoperformedthelastnecessaryofficesforthepoorerdead；wheresheknocked。
　　`Myhusbandhasjustgone，poorsoul，’shesaid。`Canyoucomeandlayhimout？’
　　Arabellawaitedafewminutes；andthetwowomenwentalong，elbowingtheirwaythroughthestreamoffashionablepeoplepouringoutofCardinalmeadow，andbeingnearlyknockeddownbythecarriages。
　　`Imustcallatthesexton’saboutthebell，too，’saidArabella。
　　`Itisjustroundhere，isn’tit？I’llmeetyouatmydoor。’
　　Byteno’clockthatnightJudewaslyingonthebedsteadathislodgingcoveredwithasheet，andstraightasanarrow。Throughthepartlyopenedwindowthejoyousthrobofawaltzenteredfromtheball-roomatCardinal。
　　Twodayslater，whentheskywasequallycloudless，andtheairequallystill，twopersonsstoodbesideJude’sopencoffininthesamelittlebedroom。OnonesidewasArabella，ontheothertheWidowEdlin。
　　TheywerebothlookingatJude’sface，thewornoldeyelidsofMrs。Edlinbeingred。
　　`Howbeautifulheis！’saidshe。
　　`Yes。He’sa’andsomecorpse，’saidArabella。
　　Thewindowwasstillopentoventilatetheroom，anditbeingaboutnoontidetheclearairwasmotionlessandquietwithout。Fromadistancecamevoices；andanapparentnoiseofpersonsstamping。
　　`What’sthat？’murmuredtheoldwoman。
　　`Oh，that’sthedoctorsinthetheatre，conferringhonorarydegreesontheDukeofHamptonshireandalotmoreillustriousgentsofthatsort。
　　It’sRemembranceWeek，youknow。Thecheerscomefromtheyoungmen。’
　　`Aye；youngandstrong-lunged！Notlikeourpoorboyhere。’
　　Anoccasionalword，asfromsomeonemakingaspeech，floatedfromtheopenwindowsofthetheatreacrosstothisquietcorner，atwhichthereseemedtobeasmileofsomesortuponthemarblefeaturesofJude；
　　whiletheold，superseded，DelphineditionsofVirgilandHorace，andthedog-earedGreekTestamentontheneighbouringshelf，andthefewothervolumesofthesortthathehadnotpartedwith，roughenedwithstone-dustwherehehadbeeninthehabitofcatchingthemupforafewminutesbetweenhislabours，seemedtopaletoasicklycastatthesounds。Thebellsstruckoutjoyously；andtheirreverberationstravelledroundthebed-room。
　　Arabella’seyesremovedfromJudetoMrs。Edlin。`D’yethinkshewillcome？’sheasked。
　　`Icouldnotsay。Shesworenottoseehimagain。’
　　`Howisshelooking？’
　　`Tiredandmiserable，poorheart。Yearsandyearsolderthanwhenyousawherlast。Quiteastaid，wornwomannow。’Tistheman-shecan’tstomachun，evennow！’
　　`IfJudehadbeenalivetoseeher，hewouldhardlyhavecaredforheranymore，perhaps。’
　　`That’swhatwedon’tknow……Didn’theeveraskyoutosendforher，sincehecametoseeherinthatstrangeway？’
　　`No。Quitethecontrary。Iofferedtosend，andhesaidIwasnottoletherknowhowillhewas。’
　　`Didheforgiveher？’
　　`NotasIknow。’
　　`Well-poorlittlething，’tistobebelievedshe’sfoundforgivenesssomewhere！Shesaidshehadfoundpeace！
　　`Shemayswearthatonherkneestotheholycrossuponhernecklacetillshe’shoarse，butitwon’tbetrue！’saidArabella。`She’sneverfoundpeacesinceshelefthisarms，andneverwillagaintillshe’sasheisnow！