`Whycouldn’tIknowbetterthanaddressutterstrangersinsuchaway？
Imaybeanimpostor，andidlescamp，amanwithabadcharacter，forallthattheyknowtothecontrary……Perhapsthat’swhatIam！’
Nevertheless，hefoundhimselfclingingtothehopeofsomereplyastohisonelastchanceofredemption。Hewaiteddayafterday，sayingthatitwasperfectlyabsurdtoexpect，yetexpecting。WhilehewaitedhewassuddenlystirredbynewsaboutPhillotson。PhillotsonwasgivinguptheschoolnearChristminster，foralargeronefurthersouth，inMid-Wessex。
Whatthismeant；howitwouldaffecthiscousin；whether，asseemedpossible，itwasapracticalmoveoftheschoolmaster’stowardsalargerincome，inviewofaprovisionfortwoinsteadofone，hewouldnotallowhimselftosay。AndthetenderrelationsbetweenPhillotsonandtheyounggirlofwhomJudewaspassionatelyenamouredeffectuallymadeitrepugnanttoJude’stastestoapplytoPhillotsonforadviceonhisownscheme。
MeanwhiletheacademicdignitariestowhomJudehadwrittenvouchsafednoanswer，andtheyoungmanwasthusthrownbackentirelyonhimself，asformerly，withtheaddedgloomofaweakenedhope。Byindirectinquirieshesoonperceivedclearlywhathehadlonguneasilysuspected，thattoqualifyhimselfforcertainopenscholarshipsandexhibitionswastheonlybrilliantcourse。Buttodothisagooddealofcoachingwouldbenecessary，andmuchnaturalability。Itwasnexttoimpossiblethatamanreadingonhisownsystem，howeverwidelyandthoroughly，evenovertheprolongedperiodoftenyears，shouldbeabletocompetewiththosewhohadpassedtheirlivesundertrainedteachersandhadworkedtoordainedlines。
Theothercourse，thatofbuyinghimselfin，sotospeak，seemedtheonlyonereallyopentomenlikehim，thedifficultybeingsimplyofamaterialkind。Withthehelpofhisinformationhebegantoreckontheextentofthismaterialobstacle，andascertained，tohisdismay，that，attherateatwhich，withthebestoffortune，hewouldbeabletosavemoney，fifteenyearsmustelapsebeforehecouldbeinapositiontoforwardtestimonialstotheheadofacollegeandadvancetoamatriculationexamination。
Theundertakingwashopeless。
Hesawwhatacuriousandcunningglamourtheneighbourhoodoftheplacehadexercisedoverhim。Togetthereandlivethere，tomoveamongthechurchesandhallsandbecomeimbuedwiththegeniusloci，hadseemedtohisdreamingyouth，asthespotshapeditscharmstohimfromitshaloonthehorizon，theobviousandidealthingtodo。`Letmeonlygetthere，’hehadsaidwiththefatuousnessofCrusoeoverhisbigboat，`andtherestisbutamatteroftimeandenergy。’Itwouldhavebeenfarbetterforhimineverywayifhehadnevercomewithinsightandsoundofthedelusiveprecincts，hadgonetosomebusycommercialtownwiththesoleobjectofmakingmoneybyhiswits，andthencesurveyedhisplanintrueperspective。Well，allthatwascleartohimamountedtothis，thatthewholeschemehadburstup，likeaniridescentsoap-bubble，underthetouchofareasonedinquiry。Helookedbackathimselfalongthevistaofhispastyears，andhisthoughtwasakintoHeine’s：
Abovetheyouth’sinspiredandflashingeyesIseethemotleymockingfool’s-caprise！FortunatelyhehadnotbeenallowedtobringhisdisappointmentintohisdearSue’slifebyinvolvingherinthiscollapse。Andthepainfuldetailsofhisawakeningtoasenseofhislimitationsshouldnowbesparedherasfaraspossible。Afterall，shehadonlyknowalittlepartofthemiserablestruggleinwhichhehadbeenengagedthusunequipped，poor，andunforeseeing。
Healwaysrememberedtheappearanceoftheafternoononwhichheawokefromhisdream。Notquiteknowingwhattodowithhimself，hewentuptoanoctagonalchamberinthelanternofasingularlybuilttheatrethatwassetamidstthisquaintandsingularcity。Ithadwindowsallround，fromwhichanoutlookoverthewholetownanditsedificescouldbegained。
Jude’seyessweptalltheviewsinsuccession，meditatively，mournfully，yetsturdily。Thosebuildingsandtheirassociationsandprivilegeswerenotforhim。Fromtheloomingroofofthegreatlibrary，intowhichhehardlyeverhadtimetoenter，hisgazetravelledontothevariedspires，halls，gables，streets，chapels，gardens，quadrangles，whichcomposedtheensembleofthisunrivalledpanorama。Hesawthathisdestinylaynotwiththese，butamongthemanualtoilersintheshabbypurlieuwhichhehimselfoccupied，unrecognizedaspartofthecityatallbyitsvisitorsandpanegyrists，yetwithoutwhosedenizensthehardreaderscouldnotreadnorthehighthinkerslive。
Helookedoverthetownintothecountrybeyond，tothetreeswhichscreenedherwhosepresencehadatfirstbeenthesupportofhisheart，andwhoselosswasnowamaddeningtorture。Butforthisblowhemighthavebornewithhisfate。WithSueascompanionhecouldhaverenouncedhisambitionswithasmile。Withoutheritwasinevitablethatthereactionfromthelongstraintowhichhehadsubjectedhimselfshouldaffecthimdisastrously。Phillotsonhadnodoubtpassedthroughasimilarintellectualdisappointmenttothatwhichnowenvelopedhim。ButtheschoolmasterhadbeensinceblestwiththeconsolationofsweetSue，whileforhimtherewasnoconsoler。
Descendingtothestreets，hewentlistlesslyalongtillhearrivedataninn，andenteredit。Herehedrankseveralglassesofbeerinrapidsuccession，andwhenhecameoutitwasnight。Bythelightoftheflickeringlampsherambledhometosupper，andhadnotlongbeensittingattablewhenhislandladybroughtupaletterthathadjustarrivedforhim。Shelaiditdownasifimpressedwithasenseofitspossibleimportance，andonlookingatitJudeperceivedthatitboretheembossedstampofoneofthecollegeswhoseheadshehadaddressed。`One-atlast！’criedJude。
Thecommunicationwasbrief，andnotexactlywhathehadexpected；
thoughitreallywasfromthemasterinperson。Itranthus：
`bibliollcollege。`Sir，-Ihavereadyourletterwithinterest；and，judgingfromyourdescriptionofyourselfasaworking-man，Iventuretothinkthatyouwillhaveamuchbetterchanceofsuccessinlifebyremaininginyourownsphereandstickingtoyourtradethanbyadoptinganyothercourse。That，therefore，iswhatIadviseyoutodo。Yoursfaithfully，`T。tetuphenay。`ToMr。J。fawley，Stone-mason。’ThisterriblysensibleadviceexasperatedJude。Hehadknownallthatbefore。
Heknewitwastrue。Yetitseemedahardslapaftertenyearsoflabour，anditseffectuponhimjustnowwastomakehimriserecklesslyfromthetable，and，insteadofreadingasusual，togodownstairsandintothestreet。Hestoodatabarandtossedofftwoorthreeglasses，thenunconsciouslysaunteredalongtillhecametoaspotcalledTheFourwaysinthemiddleofthecity，gazingabstractedlyatthegroupsofpeoplelikeoneinatrance，till，comingtohimself，hebegantalkingtothepolicemanfixedthere。
Thatofficeryawned，stretchedouthiselbows，elevatedhimselfaninchandahalfontheballsofhistoes，smiled，andlookinghumorouslyatJude，said，`You’vehadawet，youngman。’
`No；I’veonlybegun，’herepliedcynically。
Whateverhiswetness，hisbrainsweredryenough。Heonlyheardinpartthepoliceman’sfurtherremarks，havingfallenintothoughtonwhatstrugglingpeoplelikehimselfhadstoodatthatcrossway，whomnobodyeverthoughtofnow。Ithadmorehistorythantheoldestcollegeinthecity。Itwasliterallyteeming，stratified，withtheshadesofhumangroups，whohadmettherefortragedy，comedy，farce；realenactmentsoftheintensestkind。AtFourwaysmenhadstoodandtalkedofNapoleon，thelossofAmerica，theexecutionofKingCharles，theburningoftheMartyrs，theCrusades，theNormanConquest，possiblyofthearrivalofCaesar。Herethetwosexeshadmetforloving，hating，coupling，parting；hadwaited，hadsuffered，foreachother；hadtriumphedovereachother；cursedeachotherinjealousy，blessedeachotherinforgiveness。
Hebegantoseethatthetownlifewasabookofhumanityinfinitelymorepalpitating，varied，andcompendiousthanthegownlife。ThesestrugglingmenandwomenbeforehimweretherealityofChristminster，thoughtheyknewlittleofChristorMinster。Thatwasoneofthehumoursofthings。
Thefloatingpopulationofstudentsandteachers，whodidknowbothinaway，werenotChristminsterinalocalsenseatall。
Helookedathiswatch，and，inpursuitofthisidea，hewentontillhecametoapublichall，whereapromenadeconcertwasinprogress。
Judeentered，andfoundtheroomfullofshopyouthsandgirls，soldiers，apprentices，boysofelevensmokingcigarettes，andlightwomenofthemorerespectableandamateurclass。HehadtappedtherealChristminsterlife。Abandwasplaying，andthecrowdwalkedaboutandjostledeachother，andeverynowandthenamangotuponaplatformandsangacomicsong。
ThespiritofSueseemedtohoverroundhimandpreventhisflirtinganddrinkingwiththefrolicsomegirlswhomadeadvances-wistfultogainalittlejoy。Atteno’clockhecameaway，choosingacircuitousroutehomewardtopassthegatesofthecollegewhoseheadhadjustsenthimthenote。
Thegateswereshut，and，byanimpulse，hetookfromhispocketthelumpofchalkwhichasaworkmanheusuallycarriedthere，andwrotealongthewall：
`Ihaveunderstandingaswellasyou；Iamnotinferiortoyou：yea，whoknowethnotsuchthingsasthese？’-Jobxii。3。
JudetheObscureChapter18II-viiThestrokeofscornrelievedhismind，andthenextmorninghelaughedathisself-conceit。Butthelaughwasnotahealthyone。Here-readtheletterfromthemaster，andthewisdominitslines，whichhadatfirstexasperatedhim，chilledanddepressedhimnow。Hesawhimselfasafoolindeed。
Deprivedoftheobjectsofbothintellectandemotion，hecouldnotproceedtohiswork。Wheneverhefeltreconciledtohisfateasastudent，therecametodisturbhiscalmhishopelessrelationswithSue。Thattheoneaffinedsoulhehadevermetwaslosttohimthroughhismarriagereturneduponhimwithcruelpersistency，till，unabletobearitlonger，heagainrushedfordistractiontotherealChristminsterlife。Henowsoughtitoutinanobscureandlow-ceiledtavernupacourtwhichwaswellknowntocertainworthiesoftheplace，andinbrightertimeswouldhaveinterestedhimsimplybyitsquaintness。Herehesatmoreorlessalltheday，convincedthathewasatbottomaviciouscharacter，ofwhomitwashopelesstoexpectanything。
Intheeveningthefrequentersofthehousedroppedinonebyone，Judestillretaininghisseatinthecorner，thoughhismoneywasallspent，andhehadnoteatenanythingthewholedayexceptabiscuit。
Hesurveyedhisgatheringcompanionswithalltheequanimityandphilosophyofamanwhohasbeendrinkinglongandslowly，andmadefriendswithseveral：
towit，TinkerTaylor，adecayedchurch-ironmongerwhoappearedtohavebeenofareligiousturninearlieryears，butwassomewhatblasphemousnow；alsoared-nosedauctioneer；alsotwoGothicmasonslikehimself，calledUncleJimandUncleJoe。Therewerepresent，too，someclerks，andagown-andsurplice-maker’sassistant；twoladieswhosportedmoralcharactersofvariousdepthsofshade，accordingtotheircompany，nicknamed`Bowero’Bliss’and`Freckles’；somehorseymen`intheknow’ofbettingcircles；
atravellingactorfromthetheatre，andtwodevil-may-careyoungmenwhoprovedtobegownlessundergraduates；theyhadslippedinbystealthtomeetamanaboutbull-pups，andstayedtodrinkandsmokeshortpipeswiththeracinggentsaforesaid，lookingattheirwatcheseverynowandthen。
Theconversationwaxedgeneral。Christminstersocietywascriticized，thedons，magistrates，andotherpeopleinauthoritybeingsincerelypitiedfortheirshortcomings，whileopinionsonhowtheyoughttoconductthemselvesandtheiraffairstobeproperlyrespected，wereexchangedinalarge-mindedanddisinterestedmanner。
JudeFawley，withtheself-conceit，effrontery，andaplombofastrong-brainedfellowinliquor，threwinhisremarkssomewhatperemptorily；
andhisaimshavingbeenwhattheywereforsomanyyears，everythingtheotherssaidturneduponhistongue，byasortofmechanicalcraze，tothesubjectofscholarshipandstudy，theextentofhisownlearningbeingdweltuponwithaninsistencethatwouldhaveappearedpitiabletohimselfinhissanehours。
`Idon’tcareadamn，’hewassaying，`foranyprovost，warden，principal，fellow，orcursedmasterofartsintheuniversity！WhatIknowisthatI’dlick’emontheirowngroundifthey’dgivemeachance，andshow’emafewthingstheyarenotuptoyet！’
`Hear，hear！’saidtheundergraduatesfromthecorner，wheretheyweretalkingprivatelyaboutthepups`Youalwayswasfondo’books，I’veheard，’saidTinkerTaylor，`andIdon’tdoubtwhatyoustate。Nowwithme’twasdifferent。Ialwayssawtherewasmoretobelearntoutsideabookthanin；andItookmystepsaccordingly，orIshouldn’thavebeenthemanIam。’
`YouaimattheChurch，Ibelieve？’saidUncleJoe。`Ifyouaresuchascholarastopitchyerhopessohighasthat，whynotgiveusaspecimenofyourscholarship？CanstsaytheCreedinLatin，man？Thatwashowtheyonceputittoachapdowninmycountry。’
`Ishouldthinkso！’saidJudehaughtily。
`Nothe！Likehisconceit！’screamedoneoftheladies。