Thespectatorgazedonandontillthewindowsandvaneslosttheirshine，goingoutalmostsuddenlylikeextinguishedcandles。Thevaguecitybecameveiledinmist。Turningtothewest，hesawthatthesunhaddisappeared。Theforegroundofthescenehadgrownfunereallydark，andnearobjectsputonthehuesandshapesofchimaeras。
Heanxiouslydescendedtheladder，andstartedhomewardsatarun，tryingnottothinkofgiants，HernetheHunter，ApollyonlyinginwaitforChristian，orofthecaptainwiththebleedingholeinhisforeheadandthecorpsesroundhimthatremutiniedeverynightonboardthebewitchedship。Heknewthathehadgrownoutofbeliefinthesehorrors，yethewasgladwhenhesawthechurchtowerandthelightsinthecottagewindows，eventhoughthiswasnotthehomeofhisbirth，andhisgreat-auntdidnotcaremuchabouthim。
Insideandroundaboutthatoldwoman’s`shop’window，withitstwenty-fourlittlepanessetinlead-work，theglassofsomeofthemoxidizedwithage，sothatyoucouldhardlyseethepoorpennyarticlesexhibitedwithin，andformingpartofastockwhichastrongmancouldhavecarried，Judehadhisouterbeingforsomelongtidelesstime。Buthisdreamswereasgiganticashissurroundingsweresmall。
Throughthesolidbarrierofcoldcretaceousuplandtothenorthwardhewasalwaysbeholdingagorgeouscity-thefanciedplacehehadlikenedtothenewJerusalem，thoughtherewasperhapsmoreofthepainter’simaginationandlessofthediamondmerchant’sinhisdreamsthereofthaninthoseoftheApocalypticwriter。Andthecityacquiredatangibility，apermanence，aholdonhislife，mainlyfromtheonenucleusoffactthatthemanforwhoseknowledgeandpurposeshehadsomuchreverencewasactuallylivingthere；notonlyso，butlivingamongthemorethoughtfulandmentallyshiningonestherein。
Insadwetseasons，thoughheknewitmustrainatChristminstertoo，hecouldhardlybelievethatitrainedsodrearilythere。Wheneverhecouldgetawayfromtheconfinesofthehamletforanhourortwo，whichwasnotoften，hewouldstealofftotheBrownHouseonthehillandstrainhiseyespersistently；sometimestoberewardedbythesightofadomeorspire，atothertimesbyalittlesmoke，whichinhisestimatehadsomeofthemysticismofincense。
Thenthedaycamewhenitsuddenlyoccurredtohimthatifheascendedtothepointofviewafterdark，orpossiblywentamileortwofurther，hewouldseethenightlightsofthecity。Itwouldbenecessarytocomebackalone，buteventhatconsiderationdidnotdeterhim，forhecouldthrowalittlemanlinessintohismood，nodoubt。
Theprojectwasdulyexecuted。Itwasnotlatewhenhearrivedattheplaceofoutlook，onlyjustafterdusk，butablacknorth-eastsky，accompaniedbyawindfromthesamequarter，madetheoccasiondarkenough。
Hewasrewarded；butwhathesawwasnotthelampsinrows，ashehadhalfexpected。Noindividuallightwasvisible，onlyahaloorglow-fogover-archingtheplaceagainsttheblackheavensbehindit，makingthelightandthecityseemdistantbutamileorso。
Hesethimselftowonderontheexactpointintheglowwheretheschoolmastermightbe-hewhonevercommunicatedwithanybodyatMarygreennow；whowasasifdeadtothemhere。IntheglowheseemedtoseePhillotsonpromenadingatease，likeoneoftheformsinNebuchadnezzar’sfurnace。
Hehadheardthatbreezestravelledattherateoftenmilesanhour，andthefactnowcameintohismind。Hepartedhislipsashefacedthenorth-east，anddrewinthewindasifitwereasweetliquor。
`You，’hesaid，addressingthebreezecaressingly`wereinChristminstercitybetweenoneandtwohoursago，floatingalongthestreets，pullingroundtheweather-cocks，touchingMr。Phillotson’sface，beingbreathedbyhim；andnowyouarehere，breathedbyme-you，theverysame。’
Suddenlytherecamealongthiswindsomethingtowardshim-amessagefromtheplace-fromsomesoulresidingthere，itseemed。Surelyitwasthesoundofbells，thevoiceofthecity，faintandmusical，callingtohim，`Wearehappyhere！’
Hehadbecomeentirelylosttohisbodilysituationduringthismentalleap，andonlygotbacktoitbyaroughrecalling。Afewyardsbelowthebrowofthehillonwhichhepausedateamofhorsesmadeitsappearance，havingreachedtheplacebydintofhalfanhour’sserpentineprogressfromthebottomoftheimmensedeclivity。Theyhadaloadofcoalsbehindthem-afuelthatcouldonlybegotintotheuplandbythisparticularroute。Theywereaccompaniedbyacarter，asecondman，andaboy，whonowkickedalargestonebehindoneofthewheels，andallowedthepantinganimalstohavealongrest，whilethoseinchargetookaflagonofftheloadandindulgedinadrinkround。
Theywereelderlymen，andhadgenialvoices。Judeaddressedthem，inquiringiftheyhadcomefromChristminster。
`Heavenforbid，withthisload！’saidthey。
`TheplaceImeanisthatoneyonder。’HewasgettingsoromanticallyattachedtoChristminsterthat，likeayoungloveralludingtohismistress，hefeltbashfulatmentioningitsnameagain。Hepointedtothelightinthesky-hardlyperceptibletotheiroldereyes。
`Yes。Theredoseemaspotabitbrighterinthenor’-eastthanelsewhere，thoughIshouldn’tha’noticeditmyself，andnodoubtitmedbeChristminster。’
HerealittlebookoftaleswhichJudehadtuckedupunderhisarm，havingbroughtthemtoreadonhiswayhitherbeforeitgrewdark，slippedandfellintotheroad。Thecartereyedhimwhilehepickeditupandstraightenedtheleaves。
`Ah，youngman，’heobserved，`you’dhavetogetyourheadscrewedont’otherwaybeforeyoucouldreadwhattheyreadthere。’
`Why？’askedtheboy。
`Oh，theyneverlookatanythingthatfolkslikewecanunderstand，’
thecartercontinued，bywayofpassingthetime。`On’yforeigntonguesusedinthedaysoftheTowerofBabel，whennotwofamiliesspokealike。
Theyreadthatsortofthingasfastasanight-hawkwillwhir。’Tisalllearningthere-nothingbutlearning，exceptreligion。Andthat’slearningtoo，forInevercouldunderstandit。Yes，’tisaserious-mindedplace。
Notbutthere’swenchesinthestreetso’nights……Youknow，Isuppose，thattheyraisepa’sonstherelikeradishesinabed？Andthoughitdotake-howmanyyears，Bob？-fiveyearstoturnalirrupinghobble-de-hoychapintoasolemnpreachingmanwithnocorruptpassions，they’lldoit，ifitcanbedone，andpolishunoffliketheworkmentheybe，andturnunoutwi’alongface，andalongblackcoatandwaistcoat，andareligiouscollarandhat，sameastheyusedtowearintheScriptures，sothathisownmotherwouldn’tknowunsometimes……There，’tistheirbusiness，likeanybodyelse’s。’
`Buthowshouldyouknow’
`Nowdon’tyouinterrupt，myboy。Neverinterruptyoursenyers。
Movetheforehossaside，Bobby；here’ssom’atcoming……YoumustmindthatIbea-talkingofthecollegelife。’Emlivesonaloftylevel；there’snogainsayingit，thoughImyselfmednotthinkmuchof’em。Aswebehereinourbodiesonthishighground，sobetheyintheirminds-noble-mindedmenenough，nodoubt-someon’em-abletoearnhundredsbythinkingoutloud。Andsomeon’embestrongyoungfellowsthatcanearna’mostasmuchinsilvercups。Asformusic，there’sbeautifulmusiceverywhereinChristminster。Youmedbereligious，oryoumednot，butyoucan’thelpstrikinginyourhomelynotewiththerest。Andthere’sastreetintheplace-themainstreet-thatha’n’tanotherlikeitintheworld。IshouldthinkIdidknowalittleaboutChristminster！’
Bythistimethehorseshadrecoveredbreathandbenttotheircollarsagain。Jude，throwingalastadoringlookatthedistanthalo，turnedandwalkedbesidehisremarkablywell-informedfriend，whohadnoobjectiontotellinghimastheymovedonmoreyetofthecity-itstowersandhallsandchurches。Thewaggonturnedintoacross-road，whereuponJudethankedthecarterwarmlyforhisinformation，andsaidheonlywishedhecouldtalkhalfaswellaboutChristminsterashe。
`Well，’tisoonlywhathascomeinmyway，’saidthecarterunboastfully。
`I’veneverbeenthere，nomorethanyou；butI’vepickeduptheknowledgehereandthere，andyoubewelcometoit。A-gettingabouttheworldasIdo，andmixingwithallclassesofsociety，onecan’thelphearingofthings。Afriendo’mine，thatusedtoclanethebootsattheCrozierHotelinChristminsterwhenhewasinhisprime，why，Iknowedunaswellasmyownbrotherinhislateryears。’
Judecontinuedhiswalkhomewardalone，ponderingsodeeplythatheforgottofeeltimid。Hesuddenlygrewolder。Ithadbeentheyearningofhishearttofindsomethingtoanchoron，toclingto-forsomeplacewhichhecouldcalladmirable。Shouldhefindthatplaceinthiscityifhecouldgetthere？Woulditbeaspotinwhich，withoutfearoffarmers，orhindrance，orridicule，hecouldwatchandwait，andsethimselftosomemightyundertakinglikethemenofoldofwhomhehadheard？Asthehalohadbeentohiseyeswhengazingatitaquarterofanhourearlier，sowasthespotmentallytohimashepursuedhisdarkway。
`Itisacityoflight，’hesaidtohimself。
`Thetreeofknowledgegrowsthere，’headdedafewstepsfurtheron。
`Itisaplacethatteachersofmenspringfromandgoto。’
`Itiswhatyoumaycallacastle，mannedbyscholarshipandreligion。’
Afterthisfigurehewassilentalongwhile，tillheadded：
`Itwouldjustsuitme。’
JudetheObscureChapter04I-ivWalkingsomewhatslowlybyreasonofhisconcentration，theboy-anancientmaninsomephasesofthought，muchyoungerthanhisyearsinothers-
wasovertakenbyalight-footedpedestrian，whom，notwithstandingthegloom，hecouldperceivetobewearinganextraordinarilytallhat，aswallow-tailedcoat，andawatch-chainthatdancedmadlyandthrewaroundscintillationsofsky-lightasitsownerswungalonguponapairofthinlegsandnoiselessboots。Jude，beginningtofeellonely，endeavouredtokeepupwithhim。
`Well，myman！I’minahurry，soyou’llhavetowalkprettyfastifyoukeepalongsideofme。DoyouknowwhoIam？’
`Yes，Ithink。PhysicianVilbert？’
`Ah-l’mknowneverywhere，Isee！Thatcomesofbeingapublicbenefactor。’
Vilbertwasanitinerantquack-doctor，wellknowntotherusticpopulation，andabsolutelyunknowntoanybodyelse，ashe，indeed，tookcaretobe，toavoidinconvenientinvestigations。Cottagersformedhisonlypatients，andhisWessex-widereputewasamongthemalone。Hispositionwashumblerandhisfieldmoreobscurethanthoseofthequackswithcapitalandanorganizedsystemofadvertising。Hewas，infact，asurvival。Thedistanceshetraversedonfootwereenormous，andextendednearlythewholelengthandbreadthofWessex。Judehadonedayseenhimsellingapotofcolouredlardtoanoldwomanasacertaincureforabadleg，thewomanarrangingtopayaguinea，ininstalmentsofashillingafortnight，fortheprecioussalve，which，accordingtothephysician，couldonlybeobtainedfromaparticularanimalwhichgrazedonMountSinai，andwastobecapturedonlyatgreatrisktolifeandlimb。Jude，thoughhealreadyhadhisdoubtsaboutthisgentleman’smedicines，felthimtobeunquestionablyatravelledpersonage，andonewhomightbeatrustworthysourceofinformationonmattersnotstrictlyprofessional。
`Is’poseyou’vebeentoChristminster，Physician？’
`Ihave-manytimes，’repliedthelongthinman。`That’soneofmycentres。’
`It’sawonderfulcityforscholarshipandreligion？’
`You’dsayso，myboy，ifyou’dseenit。Why，theverysonsoftheoldwomenwhodothewashingofthecollegescantalkinLatin-notgoodLatin，thatIadmit，asacritic：dog-Latin-cat-Latin，asweusedtocallitinmyundergraduatedays。’
`AndGreek？’
`Well-that’smoreforthemenwhoareintrainingforbishops，thattheymaybeabletoreadtheNewTestamentintheoriginal。’
`IwanttolearnLatinandGreekmyself。’
`Aloftydesire。Youmustgetagrammarofeachtongue。’
`ImeantogotoChristminstersomeday。’
`Wheneveryoudo，yousaythatPhysicianVilbertistheonlyproprietorofthosecelebratedpillsthatinfalliblycurealldisordersofthealimentarysystem，aswellasasthmaandshortnessofbreath。Twoandthreepenceabox-speciallylicensedbythegovernmentstamp。’
`CanyougetmethegrammarsifIpromisetosayithereabout？’
`I’llsellyouminewithpleasure-thoseIusedasastudent。’
`Oh，thankyou，sir！’saidJudegratefully，butingasps，fortheamazingspeedofthephysician’swalkkepthiminadog-trotwhichwasgivinghimastitchintheside。`Ithinkyou’dbetterdropbehind，myyoungman。NowI’lltellyouwhatI’lldo。I’llgetyouthegrammars，andgiveyouafirstlesson，ifyou’llremember，ateveryhouseinthevillage，torecommendPhysicianVilbert’sgoldenointment，life-drops，andfemalepills。’
`Wherewillyoubewiththegrammars？’
`Ishallbepassingherethisdayfortnightatpreciselythishouroffive-and-twentyminutespastseven。Mymovementsareastrulytimedasthoseoftheplanetsintheircourses。’
`HereI’llbetomeetyou，’saidJude。
`Withordersformymedicines？’
`Yes，Physician。’