Judewouldnowhavebeendescribedasayoungmanwithaforcible，meditative，andearnestratherthanhandsomecastofcountenance。Hewasofdarkcomplexion，withdarkharmonizingeyes，andheworeacloselytrimmedblackbeardofmoreadvancedgrowththanisusualathisage；this，withhisgreatmassofblackcurlyhair，wassometroubletohimincombingandwashingoutthestone-dustthatsettledonitinthepursuitofhistrade。Hiscapabilitiesinthelatter，havingbeenacquiredinthecountry，wereofanall-roundsort，includingmonumentalstone-cutting，gothicfree-stoneworkfortherestorationofchurches，andcarvingofageneralkind。InLondonhewouldprobablyhavebecomespecializedandhavemadehimselfa`mouldingmason，’a`foliagesculptor’-perhapsa`statuary。’
HehadthatafternoondriveninacartfromAlfredstontothevillagenearestthecityinthisdirection，andwasnowwalkingtheremainingfourmilesratherfromchoicethanfromnecessity，havingalwaysfanciedhimselfarrivingthus。
Theultimateimpulsetocomehadhadacuriousorigin-onemorenearlyrelatedtotheemotionalsideofhimthantotheintellectual，asisoftenthecasewithyoungmen。OnedaywhileinlodgingsatAlfredstonhehadgonetoMarygreentoseehisoldaunt，andhadobservedbetweenthebrasscandlesticksonhermantlepiecethephotographofaprettygirlishface，inabroadhatwithradiatingfoldsunderthebrimliketheraysofahalo。Hehadaskedwhoshewas。Hisgrand-aunthadgrufflyrepliedthatshewashiscousinSueBridehead，oftheinimicalbranchofthefamily；
andonfurtherquestioningtheoldwomanhadrepliedthatthegirllivedinChristminster，thoughshedidnotknowwhere，orwhatshewasdoing。
Hisauntwouldnotgivehimthephotograph。Butithauntedhim；