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。