`Thenyouhaven’tgivenuptheidea？-Ithoughtthatperhapsyouhadbythistime。’
`Ofcoursenot。IfondlythoughtatfirstthatyoufeltasIdoaboutthat，asyouweresomixedupinChristminsterAnglicanism。AndMr。
Phillotson——’
`IhavenorespectforChristminsterwhatever，except，inaqualifieddegree，onitsintellectualside，’saidSueBrideheadearnestly。`MyfriendIspokeoftookthatoutofme。HewasthemostirreligiousmanIeverknew，andthemostmoral。AndintellectatChristminsterisnewwineinoldbottles。ThemediaevalismofChristminstermustgo，besloughedoff，orChristminsteritselfwillhavetogo。Tobesure，attimesonecouldn’thelphavingasneakinglikingforthetraditionsoftheoldfaith，aspreservedbyasectionofthethinkersthereintouchingandsimplesincerity；butwhenIwasinmysaddest，rightestmindIalwaysfelt，`Oghastlygloriesofsaints，deadlimbsofgibbetedGods！’’……`Sue，youarenotagoodfriendofminetotalklikethat！’
`ThenIwon’t，dearJude！’Theemotionalthroat-notehadcomeback，andsheturnedherfaceaway。
`IstillthinkChristminsterhasmuchthatisglorious；thoughIwasresentfulbecauseIcouldn’tgetthere。’Hespokegently，andresistedhisimpulsetopiqueherontotears。
`Itisanignorantplace，exceptastothetownspeople，artizans，drunkards，andpaupers，’shesaid，perversestillathisdifferingfromher。`theyseelifeasitis，ofcourse；butfewofthepeopleinthecollegesdo。Youproveitinyourownperson。YouareoneoftheverymenChristminsterwasintendedforwhenthecollegeswerefounded；amanwithapassionforlearning，butnomoney，oropportunities，orfriends。
Butyouwereelbowedoffthepavementbythemillionaires’sons。’
`Well，Icandowithoutwhatitconfers。Icareforsomethinghigher。’
`AndIforsomethingbroader，truer，’sheinsisted。`AtpresentintellectinChristminsterispushingoneway，andreligiontheother；
andsotheystandstock-still，liketworamsbuttingeachother。’
`WhatwouldMr。Phillotson——’
`Itisaplacefulloffetishistsandghost-seers！’
Henoticedthatwheneverhetriedtospeakoftheschoolmastersheturnedtheconversationtosomegeneralizationsabouttheoffendinguniversity。Judewasextremely，morbidly，curiousaboutherlifeasPhillotson’sproté；gé；eandbetrothed；yetshewouldnotenlightenhim。
`Well，that’sjustwhatIam，too，’hesaid。`Iamfearfuloflife，spectre-seeingalways。’
`Butyouaregoodanddear！’shemurmured。
Hisheartbumped，andhemadenoreply。
`YouareintheTractarianstagejustnow，areyounot？’sheadded，puttingonflippancytohiderealfeeling，acommontrickwithher。`Letmesee-whenwasIthere？Intheyeareighteenhundredand——’
`There’sasarcasminthatwhichisratherunpleasanttome，Sue。
NowwillyoudowhatIwantyouto？AtthistimeIreadachapter，andthensayprayers，asItoldyou。Nowwillyouconcentrateyourattentiononanybookoftheseyoulike，andsitwithyourbacktome，andleavemetomycustom？Youaresureyouwon’tjoinme？’
`I’lllookatyou。’
`No。Don’ttease，Sue！’
`Verywell-I’lldojustasyoubidme，andIwon’tvexyou，Jude，’shereplied，inthetoneofachildwhowasgoingtobegoodforeverafter，turningherbackuponhimaccordingly。AsmallBibleotherthantheonehewasusinglaynearher，andduringhisretreatshetookitup，andturnedovertheleaves。
`Jude，’shesaidbrightly，whenhehadfinishedandcomebacktoher；`willyouletmemakeyouanewNewTestament，liketheoneImadeformyselfatChristminster？’
`Ohyes。Howwasthatmade？’
`IalteredmyoldonebycuttingupalltheEpistlesandGospelsintoseparatebrochures，andrearrangingtheminchronologicalorderaswritten，beginningthebookwithThessalonians，followingonwiththeEpistles，andputtingtheGospelsmuchfurtheron。ThenIhadthevolumerebound。MyuniversityfriendMr——butnevermindhisname，poorboy-saiditwasanexcellentidea。Iknowthatreadingitafterwardsmadeittwiceasinterestingasbefore，andtwiceasunderstandable。’
`H’m！’saidJude，withasenseofsacrilege。
`Andwhataliteraryenormitythisis，’shesaid，assheglancedintothepagesofSolomon’sSong。`Imeanthesynopsisattheheadofeachchapter，explainingawaytherealnatureofthatrhapsody。Youneedn’tbealarmed：nobodyclaimsinspirationforthechapterheadings。Indeed，manydivinestreatthemwithcontempt。Itseemsthedrollestthingtothinkofthefour-and-twentyelders，orbishops，orwhatevernumbertheywere，sittingwithlongfacesandwritingdownsuchstuff。’
Judelookedpained。`YouarequiteVoltairean！’hemurmured。
`Indeed？ThenIwon’tsayanymore，exceptthatpeoplehavenorighttofalsifytheBible！Ihatesuchhum-bugascouldattempttoplasteroverwithecclesiasticalabstractionssuchecstatic，natural，humanloveasliesinthatgreatandpassionatesong！’Herspeechhadgrownspirited，andalmostpetulantathisrebuke，andhereyesmoist。`IwishIhadafriendheretosupportme；butnobodyiseveronmyside！’
`ButmydearSue，myverydearSue，Iamnotagainstyou！’hesaid，takingherhand，andsurprisedatherintroducingpersonalfeelingintomereargument。
`Yesyouare，yesyouare！’shecried，turningawayherfacethathemightnotseeherbrimmingeyes。`Youareonthesideofthepeopleinthetraining-school-atleastyouseemalmosttobe！WhatIinsistonis，thattoexplainsuchversesasthis：`Whitheristhybelovedgone，Othoufairestamongwomen？’bythenote：`Thechurchprofessethherfaith，’issupremelyridiculous！’
`Wellthen，letitbe！Youmakesuchapersonalmatterofeverything！
Iam-onlytooinclinedjustnowtoapplythewordsprofanely。Youknowyouarefairestamongwomentome，cometothat！’
`Butyouarenottosayitnow！’Suereplied，hervoicechangingtoitssoftestnoteofseverity。Thentheireyesmet，andtheyshookhandslikecroniesinatavern，andJudesawtheabsurdityofquarrellingonsuchahypotheticalsubject，andshethesillinessofcryingaboutwhatwaswritteninanoldbookliketheBible。
`Iwon’tdisturbyourconvictions-Ireallywon’t！’shewentonsoothingly，fornowhewasrathermoreruffledthanshe。`ButIdidwantandlongtoennoblesomemantohighaims；andwhenIsawyou，andknewyouwantedtobemycomrade，I-shallIconfessit？-thoughtthatmanmightbeyou。ButyoutakesomuchtraditionontrustthatIdon’tknowwhattosay。’
`Well，dear；Isupposeonemusttakesomethingsontrust。Lifeisn’tlongenoughtoworkouteverythinginEuclidproblemsbeforeyoubelieveit。ItakeChristianity。’
`Well，perhapsyoumighttakesomethingworse。’
`IndeedImight。PerhapsIhavedoneso！’HethoughtofArabella。
`Iwon’taskwhat，becausewearegoingtobeverynicewitheachother，aren’twe，andnever，never，vexeachotheranymore？’
Shelookeduptrustfully，andhervoiceseemedtryingtonestleinhisbreast。
`Ishallalwayscareforyou！’saidJude。
`AndIforyou。Becauseyouaresingle-hearted，andforgivingtoyourfaultyandtiresomelittleSue！’
Helookedaway，forthatepicenetendernessofherswastooharrowing。
Wasitthatwhichhadbrokentheheartofthepoorleader-writer；andwashetobethenextone？……ButSuewassodear！……Ifhecouldonlygetoverthesenseofhersex，assheseemedtobeabletodosoeasilyofhis，whatacomradeshewouldmake；fortheirdifferenceofopiniononconjecturalsubjectsonlydrewthemclosertogetheronmattersofdailyhumanexperience。Shewasnearertohimthananyotherwomanhehadevermet，andhecouldscarcelybelievethattime，creed，orabsence，wouldeverdividehimfromher。
Buthisgriefatherincredulitiesreturned。Theysatontillshefellasleepagain，andhenoddedinhischairlikewise。Wheneverhearousedhimselfheturnedherthings，andmadeupthefireanew。Aboutsixo’clockheawokecompletely，andlightingacandle，foundthatherclothesweredry。Herchairbeingafarmorecomfortableonethanhisshestillsleptoninsidehisgreat-coat，lookingwarmasanewbunandboyishasaGanymede。Placingthegarmentsbyherandtouchingherontheshoulderhewentdownstairs，andwashedhimselfbystarlightintheyard。
JudetheObscureChapter23III-vWhenhereturnedshewasdressedasusual。
`NowcouldIgetoutwithoutanybodyseeingme？’sheasked。`Thetownisnotyetastir。’
`Butyouhavehadnobreakfast。’
`Oh，Idon’twantany！IfearIoughtnottohaverunawayfromthatschool！Thingsseemsodifferentinthecoldlightofmorning，don’tthey？WhatMr。PhillotsonwillsayIdon’tknow！ItwasquitebyhiswishthatIwentthere。HeistheonlymanintheworldforwhomIhaveanyrespectorfear。Ihopehe’llforgiveme；buthe’llscoldmedreadfully，Iexpect！’
`I’llgotohimandexplain-`beganJude。
`Ohno，youshan’t。Idon’tcareforhim！Hemaythinkwhathelikes-IshalldojustasIchoose！’
`Butyoujustthismomentsaid——’
`Well，ifIdid，IshalldoasIlikeforallhim！IhavethoughtofwhatIshalldo-gotothesisterofoneofmyfellow-studentsinthetraining-school，whohasaskedmetovisither。ShehasaschoolnearShaston，abouteighteenmilesfromhere-andIshallstaytheretillthishasblownover，andIgetbacktothetraining-schoolagain。’
Atthelastmomenthepersuadedhertolethimmakeheracupofcoffee，inaportableapparatushekeptinhisroomforuseonrisingtogotohisworkeverydaybeforethehouseholdwasastir。
`Nowadew-bittoeatwithit，’hesaid；`andoffwego。Youcanhavearegularbreakfastwhenyougetthere。’
Theywentquietlyoutofthehouse，Judeaccompanyinghertothestation。Astheydepartedalongthestreetaheadwasthrustoutofanupperwindowofhislodgingandquicklywithdrawn。Suestillseemedsorryforherrashness，andtowishshehadnotrebelled；tellinghimatpartingthatshewouldlethimknowassoonasshegotre-admittedtothetraining-school。
Theystoodrathermiserablytogetherontheplatform；anditwasapparentthathewantedtosaymore。
`Iwanttotellyousomething-twothings，’hesaidhurriedlyasthetraincameup。`Oneisawarmone，theotheracoldone！’
`Jude，’shesaid。`Iknowoneofthem。Andyoumustn’t！’
`What？’
`Youmustn’tloveme。Youaretolikeme-that’sall！’
Jude’sfacebecamesofullofcomplicatedgloomsthatherswasagitatedinsympathyasshebadehimadieuthroughthecarriagewindow。
Andthenthetrainmovedon，andwavingherprettyhandtohimshevanishedaway。
MelchesterwasadismalplaceenoughforJudethatSundayofherdeparture，andtheClosesohatefulthathedidnotgooncetothecathedralservices。Thenextmorningtherecamealetterfromher，which，withherusualpromptitude，shehadwrittendirectlyshehadreachedherfriend’shouse。Shetoldhimofhersafearrivalandcomfortablequarters，andthenadded：-WhatIreallywriteabout，dearJude，issomethingIsaidtoyouatparting。YouhadbeensoverygoodandkindtomethatwhenyouwereoutofsightIfeltwhatacruelandungratefulwomanIwastosayit，andithasreproachedmeeversince。Ifyouwanttoloveme，Jude，youmay：Idon’tmindatall；andI’llneversayagainthatyoumustn’t！
NowIwon’twriteanymoreaboutthat。Youdoforgiveyourthoughtlessfriendforhercruelty？andwon’tmakehermiserablebysayingyoudon’t？-
Ever，Sue。Itwouldbesuperfluoustosaywhathisanswerwas；andhowhethoughtwhathewouldhavedonehadhebeenfree，whichshouldhaverenderedalongresidencewithafemalefriendquiteunnecessaryforSue。HefelthemighthavebeenprettysureofhisownvictoryifithadcometoaconflictbetweenPhillotsonandhimselfforthepossessionofher。
YetJudewasindangerofattachingmoremeaningtoSue’simpulsivenotethanitreallywasintendedtobear。