Whentheothertravellersclosedtheireyes，whichtheydidonebyone-eventhekittencurlingitselfupinthebasket，wearyofitstoocircumscribedplay-theboyremainedjustasbefore。Hethenseemedtobedoublyawake，likeanenslavedanddwarfeddivinity，sittingpassiveandregardinghiscompanionsasifhesawtheirwholeroundedlivesratherthantheirimmediatefigures。
ThiswasArabella’sboy。WithherusualcarelessnessshehadpostponedwritingtoJudeabouthimtilltheeveofhislanding，whenshecouldabsolutelypostponenolonger，thoughshehadknownforweeksofhisapproachingarrival，andhad，asshetrulysaid，visitedAldbrickhammainlytorevealtheboy’sexistenceandhisnearhome-comingtoJude。Thisverydayonwhichshehadreceivedherformerhusband’sansweratsometimeintheafternoon，thechildreachedtheLondonDocks，andthefamilyinwhosechargehehadcome，havingputhimintoacabforLambethanddirectedthecabmantohismother’shouse，badehimgood-bye，andwenttheirway。
OnhisarrivalattheThreeHorns，Arabellahadlookedhimoverwithanexpressionthatwasasgoodassaying，`YouareverymuchwhatIexpectedyoutobe，’hadgivenhimagoodmeal，alittlemoney，and，lateasitwasgetting，dispatchedhimtoJudebythenexttrain，wishingherhusbandCartlett，whowasout，nottoseehim。
ThetrainreachedAldbrickham，andtheboywasdepositedonthelonelyplatformbesidehisbox。Thecollectortookhisticketand，withameditativesenseoftheunfitnessofthings，askedhimwherehewasgoingbyhimselfatthattimeofnight。
`GoingtoSpringStreet，’saidthelittleoneimpassively。
`Why，that’salongwayfromhere；a’mostoutinthecountry；
andthefolkswillbegonetobed。’
`I’vegottogothere。’
`Youmusthaveaflyforyourbox。’
`No。Imustwalk。’
`Ohwell：you’dbetterleaveyourboxhereandsendforit。There’sa’busgoeshalf-way，butyou’llhavetowalktherest。’
`Iamnotafraid。’
`Whydidn’tyourfriendscometomeet’ee？’
`Isupposetheydidn’tknowIwascoming。’
`Whoisyourfriends？’
`Motherdidn’twishmetosay。’
`AllIcando，then，istotakechargeofthis。Nowwalkasfastasyoucan。’
Sayingnothingfurthertheboycameoutintothestreet，lookingroundtoseethatnobodyfollowedorobservedhim。Whenhehadwalkedsomelittledistanceheaskedforthestreetofhisdestination。Hewastoldtogostraightonquiteintotheoutskirtsoftheplace。
Thechildfellintoasteadymechanicalcreepwhichhadinitanimpersonalquality-themovementofthewave，orofthebreeze，orofthecloud。Hefollowedhisdirectionsliterally，withoutaninquiringgazeatanything。Itcouldhavebeenseenthattheboy’sideasoflifeweredifferentfromthoseofthelocalboys。Childrenbeginwithdetail，andlearnuptothegeneral；theybeginwiththecontiguous，andgraduallycomprehendtheuniversal。Theboyseemedtohavebegunwiththegeneralsoflife，andnevertohaveconcernedhimselfwiththeparticulars。Tohimthehouses，thewillows，theobscurefieldsbeyond，wereapparentlyregardednotasbrickresidences，pollards，meadows；butashumandwellingsintheabstract，vegetation，andthewidedarkworld。
Hefoundthewaytothelittlelane，andknockedatthedoorofJude’shouse。Judehadjustretiredtobed，andSuewasabouttoenterherchamberadjoiningwhensheheardtheknockandcamedown。
`IsthiswhereFatherlives？’askedthechild。
`Who？’
`Mr。Fawley，that’shisname。’
SueranuptoJude’sroomandtoldhim，andhehurrieddownassoonashecould，thoughtoherimpatienceheseemedlong。
`What-isithe-sosoon？’sheaskedasJudecame。
Shescrutinizedthechild’sfeatures，andsuddenlywentawayintothelittlesitting-roomadjoining。Judeliftedtheboytoalevelwithhimself，keenlyregardedhimwithgloomytenderness，andtellinghimhewouldhavebeenmetiftheyhadknownofhiscomingsosoon，sethimprovisionallyinachairwhilsthewenttolookforSue，whosesupersensitivenesswasdisturbed，asheknew。Hefoundherinthedark，bendingoveranarm-chair。
Heenclosedherwithhisarm，andputtinghisfacebyhers，whispered，`What’sthematter？’
`WhatArabellasaysistrue-true！Iseeyouinhim！’
`Well：that’sonethinginmylifeasitshouldbe，atanyrate。’
`Buttheotherhalfofhimis-she！Andthat’swhatI
can’tbear！ButIoughtto-I’lltrytogetusedtoit；yes，Iought！’
`JealouslittleSue！Iwithdrawallremarksaboutyoursexlessness。
Nevermind！Timemayrightthings……AndSue，darling；Ihaveanidea！
We’lleducateandtrainhimwithaviewtotheuniversity。WhatIcouldn’taccomplishinmyownpersonperhapsIcancarryoutthroughhim？Theyaremakingiteasierforpoorstudentsnow，youknow。’
`Ohyoudreamer！’saidshe，andholdinghishandreturnedtothechildwithhim。Theboylookedatherasshehadlookedathim。`Isityouwho’smyrealmotheratlast？’heinquired。
`Why？DoIlooklikeyourfather’swife？’
`Well，yes；’ceptheseemsfondofyou，andyouofhim。CanI
callyouMother？’
Thenayearninglookcameoverthechildandhebegantocry。
Suethereuponcouldnotrefrainfrominstantlydoinglikewise，beingaharpwhichtheleastwindofemotionfromanother’sheartcouldmaketovibrateasreadilyasaradicalstirinherown。
`YoumaycallmeMother，ifyouwishto，mypoordear！’shesaid，bendinghercheekagainsthistohidehertears。
`What’sthisroundyourneck？’askedJudewithaffectedcalmness。
`Thekeyofmyboxthat’satthestation。’
Theybustledaboutandgothimsomesupper，andmadehimupatemporarybed，wherehesoonfellasleep。Bothwentandlookedathimashelay。
`HecalledyouMothertwoorthreetimesbeforehedroppedoff，’
murmuredJude。`Wasn’titoddthatheshouldhavewantedto！’
`Well-itwassignificant，’saidSue。`There’smoreforustothinkaboutinthatonelittlehungryheartthaninallthestarsofthesky……Isuppose，dear，wemustpluckupcourage，andgetthatceremonyover？Itisnousestrugglingagainstthecurrent，andIfeelmyselfgettingintertwinedwithmykind。OhJude，you’lllovemedearly，won’tyou，afterwards！Idowanttobekindtothischild，andtobeamothertohim；andouraddingthelegalformtoourmarriagemightmakeiteasierforme。’
JudetheObscureChapter38V-ivTheirnextandsecondattemptthereatwasmoredeliberatelymade，thoughitwasbegunonthemorningfollowingthesingularchild’sarrivalattheirhome。
Himtheyfoundtobeinthehabitofsittingsilent，hisquaintandweirdfaceset，andhiseyesrestingonthingstheydidnotseeinthesubstantialworld。
`HisfaceislikethetragicmaskofMelpomene，’saidSue。`Whatisyourname，dear？Didyoutellus？’
`LittleFatherTimeiswhattheyalwayscalledme。Itisanickname；
becauseIlooksoaged，theysay。’
`Andyoutalkso，too，’saidSuetenderly。`Itisstrange，Jude，thatthesepreternaturallyoldboysalmostalwayscomefromnewcountries。
Butwhatwereyouchristened？’
`Ineverwas。’
`Whywasthat？’
`Because，ifIdiedindamnation，’twouldsavetheexpenseofaChristianfuneral。’
`Oh-yournameisnotJude，then？’saidhisfatherwithsomedisappointment。
Theboyshookhishead。`Neverheerdonit。’
`Ofcoursenot，’saidSuequickly；`sinceshewashatingyouallthetime！’
`We’llhavehimchristened，’saidJude；andprivatelytoSue：
`Thedaywearemarried。’Yettheadventofthechilddisturbedhim。
Theirpositionlentthemshyness，andhavinganimpressionthatamarriageatasuperintendentregistrar’sofficewasmoreprivatethananecclesiasticalone，theydecidedtoavoidachurchthistime。BothSueandJudetogetherwenttotheofficeofthedistricttogivenotice：theyhadbecomesuchcompanionsthattheycouldhardlydoanythingofimportanceexceptineachother’scompany。
JudeFawleysignedtheformofnotice，Suelookingoverhisshoulderandwatchinghishandasittracedthewords。Asshereadthefour-squareundertaking，neverbeforeseenbyher，intowhichherownandJude’snameswereinserted，andbywhichthatveryvolatileessence，theirloveforeachother，wassupposedtobemadepermanent，herfaceseemedtogrowpainfullyapprehensive。`NamesandSurnamesoftheParties’-theyweretobepartiesnow，notlovers，shethought。`Condition’-ahorrididea-
`RankorOccupation’-`Age’-`Dwellingat’-`LengthofResidence’-
`ChurchorBuildinginwhichtheMarriageistobesolemnized’-`DistrictandCountyinwhichthePartiesrespectivelydwell。’
`Itspoilsthesentiment，doesn’tit！’shesaidontheirwayhome。
`Itseemsmakingamoresordidbusinessofiteventhansigningthecontractinavestry。Thereisalittlepoetryinachurch。Butwe’lltrytogetthroughwithit，dearest，now。’
`Wewill。`Forwhatmanishethathathbetrothedawifeandhathnottakenher？Lethimgoandreturnuntohishouse，lesthedieinthebattle，andanothermantakeher。’SosaidtheJewishlaw-giver。’
`HowyouknowtheScriptures，Jude！Youreallyoughttohavebeenaparson。Icanonlyquoteprofanewriters！’
DuringtheintervalbeforetheissuingofthecertificateSue，inherhousekeepingerrands，sometimeswalkedpasttheoffice，andfurtivelyglancinginsawaffixedtothewallthenoticeofthepurposedclinchtotheirunion。Shecouldnotbearitsaspect。Comingafterherpreviousexperienceofmatrimony，alltheromanceoftheirattachmentseemedtobestarvedawaybyplacingherpresentcaseinthesamecategory。ShewasusuallyleadinglittleFatherTimebythehand，andfanciedthatpeoplethoughthimhers，andregardedtheintendedceremonyasthepatchingupofanolderror。
MeanwhileJudedecidedtolinkhispresentwithhispastinsomeslightdegreebyinvitingtotheweddingtheonlypersonremainingonearthwhowasassociatedwithhisearlylifeatMarygreen-theagedwidowMrs。
Edlin，whohadbeenhisgreat-aunt’sfriendandnurseinherlastillness。
Hehardlyexpectedthatshewouldcome；butshedid，bringingsingularpresents，intheformofapples，jam，brasssnuffers，anancientpewterdish，awarming-pan，andanenormousbagofgoosefeatherstowardsabed。
ShewasallottedthespareroominJude’shouse，whithersheretiredearly，andwheretheycouldhearherthroughtheceilingbelow，honestlysayingtheLord’sPrayerinaloudvoice，astheRubricdirected。
As，however，shecouldnotsleep，anddiscoveredthatSueandJudewerestillsittingup-itbeinginfactonlyteno’clock-shedressedherselfagainandcamedown，andtheyallsatbythefiretillalatehour-FatherTimeincluded；though，asheneverspoke，theywerehardlyconsciousofhim。
`Well，Ibain’tsetagainstmarryingasyourgreat-auntwas，’
saidthewidow。`AndIhope’twillbeajocundweddingforyeinallrespectsthistime。Nobodycanhopeitmore，knowingwhatIdoofyourfamilies，whichismore，Isuppose，thananybodyelsenowliving。Fortheyhavebeenunluckythatway，Godknows。’
Suebreatheduneasily。
`Theywasalwaysgood-heartedpeople，too-wouldn’tkillaflyiftheyknowedit，’continuedtheweddingguest。`Butthingshappenedtothwart’em，andifeverythingwasn’tvittytheywereupset。Nodoubtthat’showhethatthetaleistoldofcametodowhat’adid-ifhewereoneofyourfamily。’
`Whatwasthat？’saidJude。
`Well-thattale，yeknow；hethatwasgibbetedjustonthebrowofthehillbytheBrownHouse-notfarfromthemilestonebetweenMarygreenandAlfredston，wheretheotherroadbranchesoff。ButLord，’twasinmygrandfather’stime；anditmedn’havebeenoneofyourfolkatall。’
`Iknowwherethegibbetissaidtohavestood，verywell，’murmuredJude。`ButIneverheardofthis。What-didthisman-myancestorandSue’s-killhiswife？’
`’Twernotthatexactly。Sheranawayfromhim，withtheirchild，toherfriends；andwhileshewastherethechilddied。Hewantedthebody，toburyitwherehispeoplelay，butshewouldn’tgiveitup。Herhusbandthencameinthenightwithacart，andbrokeintothehousetostealthecoffinaway；buthewascatched，andbeingobstinate，wouldn’ttellwhathebrokeinfor。Theybroughtitinburglary，andthat’swhyhewashangedandgibbetedonBrownHouseHill。Hiswifewentmadafterhewasdead。
Butitmedn’tbetruethathebelongedtoyemorethantome。’
Asmallslowvoicerosefromtheshadeofthefireside，asifoutoftheearth：`IfIwasyou，Mother，Iwouldn’tmarryFather！’ItcamefromlittleTime，andtheystarted，fortheyhadforgottenhim。
`Oh，itisonlyatale，’saidSuecheeringly。