Thereseemedtohim，vaguelyanddimly，somethingwronginasocialritualwhichmadenecessaryacancellingofwell-formedschemesinvolvingyearsofthoughtandlabour，offoregoingaman’soneopportunityofshowinghimselfsuperiortotheloweranimals，andofcontributinghisunitsofworktothegeneralprogressofhisgeneration，becauseofamomentarysurprisebyanewandtransitoryinstinctwhichhadnothinginitofthenatureofvice，andcouldbeonlyatthemostcalledweakness。Hewasinclinedtoinquirewhathehaddone，orshelost，forthatmatter，thathedeservedtobecaughtinaginwhichwouldcripplehim，ifnotheralso，fortherestofalifetime？Therewasperhapssomethingfortunateinthefactthattheimmediatereasonofhismarriagehadprovedtobenon-existent。Butthemarriageremained。
　　JudetheObscureChapter10I-xThetimearrivedforkillingthepigwhichJudeandhiswifehadfattenedintheirstyduringtheautumnmonths，andthebutcheringwastimedtotakeplaceassoonasitwaslightinthemorning，sothatJudemightgettoAlfredstonwithoutlosingmorethanaquarterofaday。
　　Thenighthadseemedstrangelysilent。Judelookedoutofthewindowlongbeforedawn，andperceivedthatthegroundwascoveredwithsnow-snowratherdeepfortheseason，itseemed，afewflakesstillfalling。
　　`I’mafraidthepig-killerwon’tbeabletocome，’hesaidtoArabella。
　　`Oh，he’llcome。Youmustgetupandmakethewaterhot，ifyouwantChallowtoscaldhim。ThoughIlikesingeingbest。’
　　`I’llgetup，’saidJude。`Ilikethewayofmyowncounty。’
　　Hewentdownstairs，litthefireunderthecopper，andbeganfeedingitwithbean-stalks，allthetimewithoutacandle，theblazeflingingacheerfulshineintotheroom；thoughforhimthesenseofcheerfulnesswaslessenedbythoughtsonthereasonofthatblaze-toheatwatertoscaldthebristlesfromthebodyofananimalthatasyetlived，andwhosevoicecouldbecontinuallyheardfromacornerofthegarden。Athalf-pastsix，thetimeofappointmentwiththebutcher，thewaterboiled，andJude’swifecamedownstairs。
　　`IsChallowcome？’sheasked。
　　`No。’
　　Theywaited，anditgrewlighter，withthedrearylightofasnowydawn。Shewentout，gazedalongtheroad，andreturningsaid，`He’snotcoming。Drunklastnight，Iexpect。Thesnowisnotenoughtohinderhim，surely！’
　　`Thenwemustputitoff。Itisonlythewaterboiledfornothing。
　　Thesnowmaybedeepinthevalley。’
　　`Can’tbeputoff。There’snomorevictualsforthepig。Heatethelastmixingo’barleymealyesterdaymorning。’
　　`Yesterdaymorning？Whathashelivedonsince？’
　　`Nothing。’
　　`What-hehasbeenstarving？’
　　`Yes。Wealwaysdoitthelastdayortwo，tosavebotherwiththeinnerds。Whatignorance，nottoknowthat！’
　　`Thataccountsforhiscryingso。Poorcreature！’
　　`Well-youmustdothesticking-there’snohelpforit。I’llshowyouhow。OrI’lldoitmyself-IthinkIcould。ThoughasitissuchabigpigIhadratherChallowhaddoneit。However，hisbasketo’knivesandthingshavebeenalreadysentonhere，andwecanuse’em。’
　　`Ofcourseyoushan’tdoit，’saidJude。`I’lldoit，sinceitmustbedone。’
　　Hewentouttothesty，shovelledawaythesnowforthespaceofacoupleofyardsormore，andplacedthestoolinfront，withtheknivesandropesathand。Arobinpeereddownatthepreparationsfromthenearesttree，and，notlikingthesinisterlookofthescene，flewaway，thoughhungry。BythistimeArabellahadjoinedherhusband，andJude，ropeinhand，gotintothesty，andnoosedtheaffrightedanimal，who，beginningwithasqueakofsurprise，rosetorepeatedcriesofrage。Arabellaopenedthesty-door，andtogethertheyhoistedthevictimontothestool，legsupward，andwhileJudeheldhimArabellaboundhimdown，loopingthecordoverhislegstokeephimfromstruggling。
　　Theanimal’snotechangeditsquality。Itwasnotnowrage，butthecryofdespair；long-drawn，slowandhopeless。
　　`UponmysoulIwouldsoonerhavegonewithoutthepigthanhavehadthistodo！’saidJude。`AcreatureIhavefedwithmyownhands。’
　　`Don’tbesuchatender-heartedfool！There’sthesticking-knife-theonewiththepoint。Nowwhateveryoudo，don’tstickuntoodeep。’
　　`I’llstickhimeffectually，soastomakeshortworkofit。That’sthechiefthing。’
　　`Youmustnot！’shecried。`Themeatmustbewellbled，andtodothathemustdieslow。Weshallloseashillingascoreifthemeatisredandbloody！Justtouchthevein，that’sall。Iwasbroughtuptoit，andIknow。Everygoodbutcherkeepsunbleedinglong。Heoughttobeeightortenminutesdying，atleast。’
　　`HeshallnotbehalfaminuteifIcanhelpit，howeverthemeatmaylook，’saidJudedeterminedly。Scrapingthebristlesfromthepig’supturnedthroat，ashehadseenthebutchersdo，heslitthefat；thenplungedintheknifewithallhismight。
　　`’Oddamnitall！’shecried，`thateverIshouldsayit！You’veover-stuckun！AndItellingyouallthetime——’
　　`Dobequiet，Arabella，andhavealittlepityonthecreature！’
　　`Holdupthepailtocatchtheblood，anddon’ttalk！’
　　Howeverunworkmanlikethedeed，ithadbeenmercifullydone。Thebloodflowedoutinatorrentinsteadofinthetricklingstreamshehaddesired。Thedyinganimal’scryassumeditsthirdandfinaltone，theshriekofagony；hisglazingeyesrivetingthemselvesonArabellawiththeeloquentlykeenreproachofacreaturerecognizingatlastthetreacheryofthosewhohadseemedhisonlyfriends。
　　`Makeunstopthat！’saidArabella。`Suchanoisewillbringsomebodyorotheruphere，andIdon’twantpeopletoknowwearedoingitourselves。’
　　PickinguptheknifefromthegroundwhereonJudehadflungit，sheslippeditintothegash，andslitthewindpipe。Thepigwasinstantlysilent，hisdyingbreathcomingthroughthehole`That’sbetter，’shesaid。
　　`Itisahatefulbusiness！’saidhe。
　　`Pigsmustbekilled。’
　　Theanimalheavedinafinalconvulsion，and，despitetherope，kickedoutwithallhislaststrength。Atablespoonfulofblackclotcameforth，thetricklingofredbloodhavingceasedforsomeseconds。
　　`That’sit；nowhe’llgo，’saidshe。`Artfulcreatures-theyalwayskeepbackadroplikethataslongastheycan！’
　　ThelastplungehadcomesounexpectedlyastomakeJudestagger，andinrecoveringhimselfhekickedoverthevesselinwhichthebloodhadbeencaught。
　　`There！’shecried，thoroughlyinapassion。`NowIcan’tmakeanyblackpot。There’sawaste，allthroughyou！’
　　Judeputthepailupright，butonlyaboutathirdofthewholesteamingliquidwasleftinit，themainpartbeingsplashedoverthesnow，andformingadismal，sordid，uglyspectacle-tothosewhosawitasotherthananordinaryobtainingofmeat。Thelipsandnostrilsoftheanimalturnedlivid，thenwhite，andthemusclesofhislimbsrelaxed。
　　`ThankGod！’Judesaid。`He’sdead。’
　　`What’sGodgottodowithsuchamessyjobasapig-killing，Ishouldliketoknow！’shesaidscornfully。`Poorfolksmustlive。’
　　`Iknow，Iknow，’saidhe。`Idon’tscoldyou。’
　　Suddenlytheybecameawareofavoiceathand。
　　`Welldone，youngmarriedvolk！Icouldn’thavecarrieditoutmuchbettermyself，cussmeifIcould！’Thevoice，whichwashusky，camefromthegarden-gate，andlookingupfromthesceneofslaughtertheysawtheburlyformofMr。Challowleaningoverthegate，criticallysurveyingtheirperformance。
　　`’Tiswellfor’eetostandthereandglane！’saidArabella。`Owingtoyourbeinglatethemeatisbloodedandhalfspoiled！’Twon’tfetchsomuchbyashillingascore！’
　　Challowexpressedhiscontrition。`Youshouldhavewaitedabit’
　　hesaid，shakinghishead，`andnothavedonethis-inthedelicatestate，too，thatyoubeinatpresent，ma’am。’Tisriskingyourselftoomuch。’
　　`Youneedn’tbeconcernedaboutthat，’saidArabella，laughing。
　　Judetoolaughed，buttherewasastrongflavourofbitternessinhisamusement。
　　Challowmadeupforhisneglectofthekillingbyzealinthescaldingandscraping。Judefeltdissatisfiedwithhimselfasamanatwhathehaddone，thoughawareofhislackofcommonsense，andthatthedeedwouldhaveamountedtothesamethingifcarriedoutbydeputy。Thewhitesnow，stainedwiththebloodofhisfellow-mortal，woreanillogicallooktohimasaloverofjustice，nottosayaChristian；buthecouldnotseehowthematterwastobemended。Nodoubthewas，ashiswifehadcalledhim，atender-heartedfool。
　　HedidnotliketheroadtoAlfredstonnow。Itstaredhimcynicallyintheface。Thewaysideobjectsremindedhimsomuchofhiscourtshipofhiswifethat，tokeepthemoutofhiseyes，hereadwheneverhecouldashewalkedtoandfromhiswork。Yethesometimesfeltthatbycaringforbookshewasnotescapingcommon-placenorgainingrareideas，everyworking-manbeingofthattastenow。Whenpassingnearthespotbythestreamonwhichhehadfirstmadeheracquaintanceheonedayheardvoicesjustashehaddoneatthatearliertime。OneofthegirlswhohadbeenArabella’scompanionswastalkingtoafriendinashed，himselfbeingthesubjectofdiscourse，possiblybecausetheyhadseenhiminthedistance。
　　Theywerequiteunawarethattheshed-wallsweresothinthathecouldheartheirwordsashepassed。
　　`Howsomever，’twasIputheruptoit！’Nothingventurenothinghave，’Isaid。IfIhadn’tshe’dnomorehavebeenhismis’essthanI。’
　　`’Tismybeliefsheknewtherewasnothingthematterwhenshetoldhimshewas……’
　　WhathadArabellabeenputuptobythiswoman，sothatheshouldmakeherhis`mis’ess，’otherwisewife？Thesuggestionwashorridlyunpleasant，anditrankledinhismindsomuchthatinsteadofenteringhisowncottagewhenhereacheditheflunghisbasketinsidethegarden-gateandpassedon，determinedtogoandseehisoldauntandgetsomesupperthere。
　　Thismadehisarrivalhomeratherlate。Arabellahowever，wasbusymeltingdownlardfromfatofthedeceasedpig，forshehadbeenoutonajauntallday，andsodelayedherwork。Dreadinglestwhathehadheardshouldleadhimtosaysomethingregrettabletoherhespokelittle。
　　ButArabellawasverytalkative，andsaidamongotherthingsthatshewantedsomemoney。Seeingthebookstickingoutofhispocketsheaddedthatheoughttoearnmore。
　　`Anapprentice’swagesarenotmeanttobeenoughtokeepawifeon，asarule，mydear。’
　　`Thenyoushouldn’thavehadone。’
　　`Come，Arabella！That’stoobad，whenyouknowhowitcameabout。’
　　`I’lldeclareaforeHeaventhatIthoughtwhatItoldyouwastrue。DoctorVilbertthoughtso。Itwasagoodjobforyouthatitwasn’tso！’
　　`Idon’tmeanthat，’hesaidhastily。`Imeanbeforethattime。
　　Iknowitwasnotyourfault；butthosewomenfriendsofyoursgaveyoubadadvice。Iftheyhadn’t，oryouhadn’ttakenit，weshouldatthismomenthavebeenfreefromabondwhich，nottomincematters，gallsbothofusdevilishly。Itmaybeverysad，butitistrue。’
　　`Who’sbeentellingyouaboutmyfriends？Whatadvice？Iinsistuponyoutellingme。’
　　`Pooh-Idrathernot。’
　　`Butyoushall-yououghtto。Itismeanof’eenotto！’
　　`Verywell。’Andhehintedgentlywhathadbeenrevealedtohim。
　　`ButIdon’twishtodwelluponit。Letussaynomoreaboutit。’
　　Herdefensivemannercollapsed。`Thatwasnothing，’shesaid，laughingcoldly。`Everywomanhasarighttodosuchasthat。Theriskishers。’
　　`Iquitedenyit，Bella。Shemightifnolifelongpenaltyattachedtoitfortheman，or，inhisdefault，forherself；iftheweaknessofthemomentcouldendwiththemoment，orevenwiththeyear。Butwheneffectsstretchsofarsheshouldnotgoanddothatwhichentrapsamanifheishonest，orherselfifheisotherwise。’
　　`WhatoughtItohavedone？’
　　`Givenmetime……Whydoyoufussyourselfaboutmeltingdownthatpig’sfatto-night？Pleaseputitaway！’
　　`ThenImustdoitto-morrowmorning。Itwon’tkeep。’
　　`Verywell-do。’
　　JudetheObscureChapter11I-xiNextmorning，whichwasSunday，sheresumedoperationsaboutteno’clock；
　　andtherenewedworkrecalledtheconversationwhichhadaccompanieditthenightbefore，andputherbackintothesameintractabletemper。
　　`That’sthestoryaboutmeinMarygreen，isit-thatIentrapped’ee？Muchofacatchyouwere，Lordsend！’AsshewarmedshesawsomeofJude’sdearancientclassicsonatablewheretheyoughtnottohavebeenlaid。`Iwon’thavethembookshereintheway！’shecriedpetulantly；
　　andseizingthemonebyoneshebeganthrowingthemuponthefloor。
　　`Leavemybooksalone！’hesaid。`Youmighthavethrownthemasideifyouhadliked，butastosoilingthemlikethat，itisdisgusting！’
　　IntheoperationofmakinglardArabella’shandshadbecomesmearedwiththehotgrease，andherfingersconsequentlyleftveryperceptibleimprintsonthebook-covers。Shecontinueddeliberatelytotossthebooksseverallyuponthefloor，tillJude，incensedbeyondbearing，caughtherbythearmstomakeherleaveoff。Somehow，ingoingso，heloosenedthefasteningofherhair，anditrolledaboutherears。
　　`Letmego！’shesaid。