Henowreturnedwithfeverishdesperationtohisstudyforthepriesthood-intherecognitionthatthesingle-mindednessofhisaims，andhisfidelitytothecause，hadbeenmorethanquestionableoflate。
HispassionforSuetroubledhissoul；yethislawfulabandonmenttothesocietyofArabellafortwelvehoursseemedinstinctivelyaworsething-eventhoughshehadnottoldhimofherSydneyhusbandtillafterwards。
Hehad，heverilybelieved，overcomealltendencytoflytoliquor-which，indeed，hehadneverdonefromtaste，butmerelyasanescapefromintolerablemiseryofmind。Yetheperceivedwithdespondencythat，takenallround，hewasamanoftoomanypassionstomakeagoodclergyman；theutmosthecouldhopeforwasthatinalifeofconstantinternalwarfarebetweenfleshandspirittheformermightnotalwaysbevictorious。
Asahobby，auxiliarytohisreadingsinDivinity，hedevelopedhisslightskillinchurch-musicandthorough-bass，tillhecouldjoininpart-singingfromnotationwithsomeaccuracy。AmileortwofromMelchestertherewasarestoredvillagechurch，towhichJudehadoriginallygonetofixthenewcolumnsandcapitals。Bythismeanshehadbecomeacquaintedwiththeorganist，andtheultimateresultwasthathejoinedthechoirasabassvoice。
HewalkedouttothisparishtwiceeverySunday，andsometimesintheweek。OneeveningaboutEasterthechoirmetforpractice，andanewhymnwhichJudehadheardofasbeingbyaWessexcomposerwastobetriedandpreparedforthefollowingweek。Itturnedouttobeastrangelyemotionalcomposition。AstheyallsangitoverandoveragainitsharmoniesgrewuponJude，andmovedhimexceedingly。
Whentheyhadfinishedhewentroundtotheorganisttomakeinquiries。
Thescorewasinmanuscript，thenameofthecomposerbeingatthehead，togetherwiththetitleofthehymn：`TheFootoftheCross。’
`Yes，’saidtheorganist。`Heisalocalman。HeisaprofessionalmusicianatKennetbridge-betweenhereandChristminster。Thevicarknowshim。HewasbroughtupandeducatedinChristminstertraditions，whichaccountsforthequalityofthepiece。Ithinkheplaysinthelargechurchthere，andhasasurplicedchoir。HecomestoMelchestersometimes，andoncetriedtogetthecathedralorganwhenthepostwasvacant。ThehymnisgettingabouteverywherethisEaster。’
Ashewalkedhummingtheaironhiswayhome，Judefelltomusingonitscomposer，andthereasonswhyhecomposedit。Whatamanofsympathieshemustbe！PerplexedandharassedashehimselfwasaboutSueandArabella，andtroubledaswashisconsciencebythecomplicationofhisposition，howhewouldliketoknowthatman！’Heofallmenwouldunderstandmydifficulties，’saidtheimpulsiveJude。Iftherewereanypersonintheworldtochooseasaconfidant，thiscomposerwouldbetheone，forhemusthavesuffered，andthrobbed，andyearned。
Inbrief，illashecouldaffordthetimeandmoneyforthejourney，Fawleyresolved，likethechildthathewas，togotoKennetbridgetheverynextSunday。Hedulystarted，earlyinthemorning，foritwasonlybyaseriesofcrookedrailwaysthathecouldgettothetown。Aboutmid-dayhereachedit，andcrossingthebridgeintothequaintoldboroughheinquiredforthehouseofthecomposer。
Theytoldhimitwasaredbrickbuildingsomelittlewayfurtheron。Alsothatthegentlemanhimselfhadjustpassedalongthestreetnotfiveminutesbefore。
`Whichway？’askedJudewithalacrity。
`Straightalonghomewardfromchurch。’
Judehastenedon，andsoonhadthepleasureofobservingamaninablackcoatandablackslouchedfelthatnoconsiderabledistanceahead。Stretchingouthislegsyetmorewidelyhestalkedafter。`Ahungrysoulinpursuitofafullsoul！’hesaid。`Imustspeaktothatman！’
Hecouldnot，however，overtakethemusicianbeforehehadenteredhisownhouse，andthenarosethequestionifthiswereanexpedienttimetocall。Whetherornothedecidedtodosothereandthen，nowthathehadgothere，thedistancehomebeingtoogreatforhimtowaittilllateintheafternoon。Thismanofsoulwouldunderstandscantceremony，andmightbequiteaperfectadviserinacaseinwhichanearthlyandillegitimatepassionhadcunninglyobtainedentranceintohisheartthroughtheopeningaffordedforreligion。
Judeaccordinglyrangthebell，andwasadmitted。
Themusiciancametohiminamoment，andbeingrespectablydressed，good-looking，andfrankinmanner，Judeobtainedafavourablereception。
Hewasneverthelessconsciousthattherewouldbeacertainawkwardnessinexplaininghiserrand。
`IhavebeensinginginthechoirofalittlechurchnearMelchester，’
hesaid。`Andwehavethisweekpractised`TheFootoftheCross，’whichIunderstand，sir，thatyoucomposed？’
`Idid-ayearorsoago。’
`I-likeit。Ithinkitsupremelybeautiful！’
`Ahwell-otherpeoplehavesaidsotoo。Yes，there’smoneyinit，ifIcouldonlyseeaboutgettingitpublished。Ihaveothercompositionstogowithit，too；IwishIcouldbringthemout；forIhaven’tmadeafive-poundnoteoutofanyofthemyet。Thesepublishingpeople-theywantthecopyrightofanobscurecomposer’swork，suchasmineis，foralmostlessthanIshouldhavetopayapersonformaking，afairmanuscriptcopyofthescore。TheoneyouspeakofIhavelenttovariousfriendsabouthereandMelchester，andsoithasgottobesungalittle。Butmusicisapoorstafftoleanon-Iamgivingitupentirely。Youmustgointotradeifyouwanttomakemoneynowadays。ThewinebusinessiswhatIamthinkingof。Thisismyforthcominglist-itisnotissuedyet-butyoucantakeone。’
HehandedJudeanadvertisementlistofseveralpagesinbookletshape，ornamentallymarginedwitharedline，inwhichweresetforththevariousclarets，champagnes，ports，sherries，andotherwineswithwhichhepurposedtoinitiatehisnewventure。IttookJudemorethanbysurprisethatthemanwiththesoulwasthusandthus；andhefeltthathecouldnotopenuphisconfidences。
Theytalkedalittlelonger，butconstrainedly，forwhenthemusicianfoundthatJudewasapoormanhismannerchangedfromwhatithadbeenwhileJude’sappearanceandaddressdeceivedhimastohispositionandpursuits。Judestammeredoutsomethingabouthisfeelingsinwishingtocongratulatetheauthoronsuchanexaltedcomposition，andtookanembarrassedleave。
AllthewayhomebytheslowSundaytrain，sittinginthefirelesswaiting-roomsonthiscoldspringday，hewasdepressedenoughathissimplicityintakingsuchajourney。ButnosoonerdidhereachhisMelchesterlodgingthanhefoundawaitinghimaletterwhichhadarrivedthatmorningafewminutesafterhehadleftthehouse。ItwasacontritelittlenotefromSue，inwhichshesaid，withsweethumility，thatshefeltshehadbeenhorridintellinghimhewasnottocometoseeher，thatshedespisedherselfforhavingbeensoconventional；andthathewastobesuretocomebytheeleven-forty-fivetrainthatverySunday，andhavedinnerwiththemathalf-pastone。
Judealmosttorehishairathavingmissedthislettertillitwastoolatetoactuponitscontents；buthehadchastenedhimselfconsiderablyoflate，andatlasthischimericalexpeditiontoKennetbridgereallydidseemtohavebeenanotherspecialinterventionofProvidencetokeephimawayfromtemptation。Butagrowingimpatienceoffaith，whichhehadnoticedinhimselfmorethanonceoflate，madehimpassoverinridiculetheideathatGodsentpeopleonfools’errands。Helongedtoseeher；hewasangryathavingmissedher：andhewroteinstantly，tellingherwhathadhappened，andsayinghehadnotenoughpatiencetowaittillthefollowingSunday，butwouldcomeanydayintheweekthatshelikedtoname。
Sincehewrotealittleover-ardently，Sue，ashermannerwas，delayedherreplytillThursdaybeforeGoodFriday，whenshesaidhemightcomethatafternoonifhewished，thisbeingtheearliestdayonwhichshecouldwelcomehim，forshewasnowassistant-teacherinherhusband’sschool。Judethereforegotleavefromthecathedralworksatthetriflingexpenseofastoppageofpay，andwent。
JudetheObscureChapter29PartFourthAtShaston`WhosopreferseitherMatrimonyorotherOrdinancebeforetheGoodofManandtheplainExigenceofCharity，lethimprofessPapist，orProtestant，orwhathewill，heisnobetterthanaPharisee。’-J。Milton。
IV-iShaston，theancientBritishPalladour，Fromwhosefoundationfirstsuchstrangereportsarise，asDraytonsangit，was，andis，initselfthecityofadream。Vagueimaginingsofitscastle，itsthreemints，itsmagnificentapsidalabbey，thechiefgloryofSouthWessex，itstwelvechurches，itsshrines，chantries，hospitals，itsgabledfreestonemansions-allnowruthlesslysweptaway-throwthevisitor，evenagainsthiswill，intoapensivemelancholy，whichthestimulatingatmosphereandlimitlesslandscapearoundhimcanscarcelydispel。Thespotwastheburial-placeofakingandaqueen，ofabbotsandabbesses，saintsandbishops，knightsandsquires。ThebonesofKingEdward`theMartyr，’carefullyremovedhitherforholypreservation，broughtShastonarenownwhichmadeittheresortofpilgrimsfromeverypartofEurope，andenabledittomaintainareputationextendingfarbeyondEnglishshores。TothisfaircreationofthegreatMiddle-AgetheDissolutionwas，ashistorianstellus，thedeath-knell。Withthedestructionoftheenormousabbeythewholeplacecollapsedinageneralruin：theMartyr’sbonesmetwiththefateofthesacredpilethatheldthem，andnotastoneisnowlefttotellwheretheylie。
Thenaturalpicturesquenessandsingularityofthetownstillremain；butstrangetosaythesequalities，whichwerenotedbymanywritersinageswhenscenicbeautyissaidtohavebeenunappreciated，arepassedoverinthis，andoneofthequeerestandquaintestspotsinEnglandstandsvirtuallyunvisitedto-day。
Ithasauniquepositiononthesummitofasteepandimposingscarp，risingonthenorth，south，andwestsidesoftheboroughoutofthedeepalluvialValeofBlackmoor，theviewfromtheCastleGreenoverthreecountiesofverdantpasture-South，Mid，andNetherWessex-beingassuddenasurprisetotheunexpectanttraveller’seyesasthemedicinalairistohislungs。Impossibletoarailway，itcanbestbereachedonfoot，nextbestbylightvehicles；anditishardlyaccessibletothesebutbyasortofisthmusonthenorth-east，thatconnectsitwiththehighchalktable-landonthatside。
Suchis，andsuchwas，thenowworld-forgottenShastonorPalladour。
Itssituationrenderedwaterthegreatwantofthetown；andwithinlivingmemory，horses，donkeysandmenmayhavebeenseentoilingupthewindingwaystothetopoftheheight，ladenwithtubsandbarrelsfilledfromthewellsbeneaththemountain，andhawkersretailingtheircontentsatthepriceofahalfpennyabucketful。
Thisdifficultyinthewatersupply，togetherwithtwootheroddfacts，namely，thatthechiefgraveyardslopesupassteeplyasaroofbehindthechurch，andthatinformertimesthetownpassedthroughacuriousperiodofcorruption，conventualanddomestic，gaverisetothesayingthatShastonwasremarkableforthreeconsolationstoman，suchastheworldaffordednotelsewhere。Itwasaplacewherethechurchyardlaynearerheaventhanthechurchsteeple，wherebeerwasmoreplentifulthanwater，andwherethereweremorewantonwomenthanhonestwivesandmaids。ItisalsosaidthataftertheMiddleAgestheinhabitantsweretoopoortopaytheirpriests，andhencewerecompelledtopulldowntheirchurches，andrefrainaltogetherfromthepublicworshipofGod；anecessitywhichtheybemoanedovertheircupsinthesettlesoftheirinnsonSundayafternoons。
InthosedaystheShastonianswereapparentlynotwithoutasenseofhumour。
Therewasanotherpeculiarity-thisamodernone-whichShastonappearedtoowetoitssite。Itwastheresting-placeandheadquartersoftheproprietorsofwanderingvans，shows，shooting-galleries，andotheritinerantconcerns，whosebusinesslaylargelyatfairsandmarkets。Asstrangewildbirdsareseenassembledonsomeloftypromontory，meditativelypausingforlongerflights，ortoreturnbythecoursetheyfollowedthither，sohere，inthiscliff-town，stoodinstultifiedsilencetheyellowandgreencaravansbearingnamesnotlocal，asifsurprisedbyachangeinthelandscapesoviolentastohindertheirfurtherprogress；andheretheyusuallyremainedallthewintertilltheyturnedtoseekagaintheiroldtracksinthefollowingspring。