`Well，’saidJude，`perhapsitisforthebestthatwehavealmostdecidedtomoveon。Ifeelmuchbetterto-day，andshallbewellenoughtoleaveinaweekortwo。ThenMrs。Edlincangohomeagain-dearfaithfuloldsoul-theonlyfriendwehaveintheworld！’
`Wheredoyouthinktogoto？’Sueasked，atroublousnessinhertones。
ThenJudeconfessedwhatwasinhismind。Hesaiditwouldsurpriseher，perhaps，afterhishavingresolutelyavoidedalltheoldplacesforsolong。ButonethingandanotherhadmadehimthinkagreatdealofChristminsterlately，and，ifshedidn’tmind，hewouldliketogobackthere。Whyshouldtheycareiftheywereknown？Itwasoversensitiveofthemtomindsomuch。
Theycouldgoonsellingcakesthere，forthatmatter，ifhecouldn’twork。
Hehadnosenseofshameatmerepoverty；andperhapshewouldbeasstrongaseversoon，andabletosetupstone-cuttingforhimselfthere。
`WhyshouldyoucaresomuchforChristminster？’shesaidpensively。
`Christminstercaresnothingforyou，poordear！’
`Well，Ido，Ican’thelpit。Ilovetheplace-althoughIknowhowithatesallmenlikeme-theso-calledself-taught，-howitscornsourlabouredacquisitions，whenitshouldbethefirsttorespectthem；
howitsneersatourfalsequantitiesandmispronunciations，whenitshouldsay，Iseeyouwanthelp，mypoorfriend！……Nevertheless，itisthecentreoftheuniversetome，becauseofmyearlydream：andnothingcanalterit。Perhapsitwillsoonwakeup，andbegenerous。Iprayso！……Ishouldliketogobacktolivethere-perhapstodiethere！IntwoorthreeweeksImight，Ithink。ItwillthenbeJune，andIshouldliketobetherebyaparticularday。’
Hishopethathewasrecoveringprovedsofarwellgroundedthatinthreeweekstheyhadarrivedinthecityofmanymemories；wereactuallytreadingitspavements，receivingthereflectionofthesunshinefromitswastingwalls。
JudetheObscureChapter43PartSixthAtChristminsterAgain`……Andshehumbledherbodygreatly，andalltheplacesofherjoyshefilledwithhertornhair。’-EstherApoc。。
`Therearetwowhodecline，awomanandI，Andenjoyourdeathinthedarknesshere。’-R。Browning。VI-iOntheirarrivalthestationwaslivelywithstraw-hattedyoungmen，welcomingyounggirlswhoborearemarkablefamilylikenesstotheirwelcomers，andwhoweredressedupinthebrightestandlightestofraiment。
`Theplaceseemsgay，’saidSue。`Why-itisRemembranceDay！-
Jude-howslyofyou-youcameto-dayonpurpose！’
`Yes，’saidJudequietly，ashetookchargeofthesmallchild，andtoldArabella’sboytokeepclosetothem，Sueattendingtotheirowneldest。`Ithoughtwemightaswellcometo-dayasonanyother。’
`ButIamafraiditwilldepressyou！’shesaid，lookinganxiouslyathimupanddown。
`Oh，Imustn’tletitinterferewithourbusiness；andwehaveagooddealtodobeforeweshallbesettledhere。Thefirstthingislodgings。’
Havinglefttheirluggageandhistoolsatthestationtheyproceededonfootupthefamiliarstreet，theholidaypeoplealldriftinginthesamedirection。ReachingtheFourwaystheywereabouttoturnofftowhereaccommodationwaslikelytobefoundwhen，lookingattheclockandthehurryingcrowd，Judesaid：`Letusgoandseetheprocession，andnevermindthelodgingsjustnow？Wecangetthemafterwards。’
`Oughtn’twetogetahouseoverourheadsfirst？’sheasked。
Buthissoulseemedfulloftheanniversary，andtogethertheywentdownChiefStreet，theirsmallestchildinJude’sarms，Sueleadingherlittlegirl，andArabella’sboywalkingthoughtfullyandsilentlybesidethem。Crowdsofprettysistersinairycostumes，andmeeklyignorantparentswhohadknownnocollegeintheiryouth，wereunderconvoyinthesamedirectionbybrothersandsonsbearingtheopinionwrittenlargeonthemthatnoproperlyqualifiedhumanbeingshadlivedonearthtilltheycametograceithereandnow。
`Myfailureisreflectedonmebyeveryoneofthoseyoungfellows，’
saidJude。`Alessononpresumptionisawaitingmeto-day！-HumiliationDayforme！……Ifyou，mydeardarling，hadn’tcometomyrescue，Ishouldhavegonetothedogswithdespair！’
Shesawfromhisfacethathewasgettingintooneofhistempestuous，self-harrowingmoods。`Itwouldhavebeenbetterifwehadgoneatonceaboutourownaffairs，dear，’sheanswered。`Iamsurethissightwillawakenoldsorrowsinyou，anddonogood！’
`Well-wearenear；wewillseeitnow，’saidhe。
TheyturnedinontheleftbythechurchwiththeItalianporch，whosehelicalcolumnswereheavilydrapedwithcreepers，andpursuedthelanetilltherearoseonJude’ssightthecirculartheatrewiththatwell-knownlanternaboveit，whichstoodinhismindasthesadsymbolofhisabandonedhopes，foritwasfromthatoutlookthathehadfinallysurveyedtheCityofCollegesontheafternoonofhisgreatmeditation，whichconvincedhimatlastofthefutilityofhisattempttobeasonoftheuniversity。
To-day，intheopenspacestretchingbetweenthisbuildingandthenearestcollege，stoodacrowdofexpectantpeople。Apassagewaskeptclearthroughtheirmidstbytwobarriersoftimber，extendingfromthedoorofthecollegetothedoorofthelargebuildingbetweenitandthetheatre。
`Hereistheplace-theyarejustgoingtopass！’criedJudeinsuddenexcitement。Andpushinghiswaytothefronthetookupapositionclosetothebarrier，stillhuggingtheyoungestchildinhisarms，whileSueandtheotherskeptimmediatelybehindhim。Thecrowdfilledinattheirback，andfelltotalking，joking，andlaughingascarriageaftercarriagedrewupatthelowerdoorofthecollege，andsolemnstatelyfiguresinblood-redrobesbegantoalight。Theskyhadgrownovercastandlivid，andthunderrumblednowandthen。
FatherTimeshuddered。`ItdoseemliketheJudgmentDay！’hewhispered。
`Theyareonlylearneddoctors，’saidSue。
Whiletheywaitedbigdropsofrainfellontheirheadsandshoulders，andthedelaygrewtedious。Sueagainwishednottostay。
`Theywon’tbelongnow，’saidJude，withoutturninghishead。
Buttheprocessiondidnotcomeforth，andsomebodyinthecrowd，topassthetime，lookedatthefacadeofthenearestcollege，andsaidhewonderedwhatwasmeantbytheLatininscriptioninitsmidst。Jude，whostoodneartheinquirer，explainedit，andfindingthatthepeopleallroundhimwerelisteningwithinterest，wentontodescribethecarvingofthefriezewhichhehadstudiedyearsbefore，andtocriticizesomedetailsofmasonryinothercollegefrontsaboutthecity。
Theidlecrowd，includingthetwopolicemenatthedoors，staredliketheLycaoniansatPaul，forJudewasapttogettooenthusiasticoveranysubjectinhand，andtheyseemedtowonderhowthestrangershouldknowmoreaboutthebuildingsoftheirtownthantheythemselvesdid；tilloneofthemsaid：`Why，Iknowthatman；heusedtoworkhereyearsago-JudeFawley，that’shisname！Don’tyoumindheusedtobenicknamedTutorofSt。Slums，d’yemind？-becauseheaimedatthatlineo’business？
He’smarried，Isuppose，then，andthat’shischildhe’scarrying。Taylorwouldknowhim，asheknowseverybody。’
ThespeakerwasamannamedJackStagg，withwhomJudehadformerlyworkedinrepairingthecollegemasonries；TinkerTaylorwasseentobestandingnear。HavinghisattentioncalledthelattercriedacrossthebarrierstoJude：`You’vehonouredusbycomingbackagain，myfriend！’
`An’youdon’tseemtohavedoneanygreatthingsforyourselfbygoingaway？’
Judeassentedtothisalso。
`Exceptfoundmoremouthstofill！’Thiscameinanewvoice，andJuderecognizeditsownertobeUncleJoe，anothermasonwhomhehadknown。
Juderepliedgood-humouredlythathecouldnotdisputeit；andfromremarktoremarksomethinglikeageneralconversationarosebetweenhimandthecrowdofidlers，duringwhichTinkerTayloraskedJudeifherememberedtheApostles’CreedinLatinstill，andthenightofthechallengeinthepublichouse。
`ButFortunedidn’tliethatway？’threwinJoe。`Yerpowerswasn’tenoughtocarry’eethrough？’
`Don’tanswerthemanymore！’entreatedSue。
`Idon’tthinkIlikeChristminster！’murmuredlittleTimemournfully，ashestoodsubmergedandinvisibleinthecrowd。
Butfindinghimselfthecentreofcuriosity，quizzing，andcomment，Judewasnotinclinedtoshrinkfromopendeclarationsofwhathehadnogreatreasontobeashamedof；andinalittlewhilewasstimulatedtosayinaloudvoicetothelisteningthronggenerally：
`Itisadifficultquestion，myfriends，foranyyoungman-thatquestionIhadtograpplewith，andwhichthousandsareweighingatthepresentmomentintheseuprisingtimes-whethertofollowuncriticallythetrackhefindshimselfin，withoutconsideringhisaptnessforit，ortoconsiderwhathisaptnessorbentmaybe，andre-shapehiscourseaccordingly。Itriedtodothelatter，andIfailed。ButIdon’tadmitthatmyfailureprovedmyviewtobeawrongone，orthatmysuccesswouldhavemadeitarightone；thoughthat’showweappraisesuchattemptsnowadays-Imean，notbytheiressentialsoundness，butbytheiraccidentaloutcomes。
IfIhadendedbybecominglikeoneofthesegentlemeninredandblackthatwesawdroppinginherebynow，everybodywouldhavesaid：`Seehowwisethatyoungmanwas，tofollowthebentofhisnature！’ButhavingendednobetterthanIbegantheysay：`Seewhatafoolthatfellowwasinfollowingafreakofhisfancy！’
`Howeveritwasmypovertyandnotmywillthatconsentedtobebeaten。IttakestwoorthreegenerationstodowhatItriedtodoinone；
andmyimpulses-affections-vicesperhapstheyshouldbecalled-weretoostrongnottohamperamanwithoutadvantages；whoshouldbeascold-bloodedasafishandasselfishasapigtohaveareallygoodchanceofbeingoneofhiscountry’sworthies。Youmayridiculeme-Iamquitewillingthatyoushould-Iamafitsubject，nodoubt。ButIthinkifyouknewwhatIhavegonethroughtheselastfewyearsyouwouldratherpityme。
Andiftheyknew’-henoddedtowardsthecollegeatwhichthedonswereseverallyarriving-`itisjustpossibletheywoulddothesame。’
`Hedolookillandworn-out，itistrue！’saidawoman。
Sue’sfacegrewmoreemotional；butthoughshestoodclosetoJudeshewasscreened。
`ImaydosomegoodbeforeIamdead-beasortofsuccessasafrightfulexampleofwhatnottodo；andsoillustrateamoralstory，’
continuedJude，beginningtogrowbitter，thoughhehadopenedserenelyenough。`Iwas，perhaps，afterall，apaltryvictimtothespiritofmentalandsocialrestlessnessthatmakessomanyunhappyinthesedays！’
`Don’ttellthemthat！’whisperedSuewithtears，atperceivingJude’sstateofmind。`Youweren’tthat。Youstrugglednoblytoacquireknowledge，andonlythemeanestsoulsintheworldwouldblameyou！’
Judeshiftedthechildintoamoreeasypositiononhisarm，andconcluded：`AndwhatIappear，asickandpoorman，isnottheworstofme。Iaminachaosofprinciples-gropinginthedark-actingbyinstinctandnotafterexample。EightornineyearsagowhenIcameherefirst，Ihadaneatstockoffixedopinions，buttheydroppedawayonebyone；
andthefurtherIgetthelesssureIam。IdoubtifIhaveanythingmoreformypresentruleoflifethanfollowinginclinationswhichdomeandnobodyelseanyharm，andactuallygivepleasuretothoseIlovebest。
There，gentlemen，sinceyouwantedtoknowhowIwasgettingon，Ihavetoldyou。Muchgoodmayitdoyou！Icannotexplainfurtherhere。Iperceivethereissomethingwrongsomewhereinoursocialformulas：whatitiscanonlybediscoveredbymenorwomenwithgreaterinsightthanmine-if，indeed，theyeverdiscoverit-atleastinourtime。`Forwhoknowethwhatisgoodformaninthislife？-andwhocantellamanwhatshallbeafterhimunderthesun？’’
`Hear，hear，’saidthepopulace。
`Wellpreached！’saidTinkerTaylor。Andprivatelytohisneighbours：
`Why，oneofthemjobbingpa’sonsswarmingabouthere，thattakestheserviceswhenourheadreverendswantaholiday，wouldn’tha’discoursedsuchdoctrineforlessthanaguineadown？Hey？I’lltakemyoathnotoneo’’emwould！
Andthenhemusthavehaditwrotedownfor’n。Andthisonlyaworking-man！’
AsasortofobjectivecommentaryonJude’sremarkstheredroveupatthismomentwithabelateddoctor，robedandpanting，acabwhosehorsefailedtostopattheexactpointrequiredforsettingdownthehirer，whojumpedoutandenteredthedoor。Thedriver，alighting，begantokicktheanimalinthebelly。
`Ifthatcanbedone，’saidJude，`atcollegegatesinthemostreligiousandeducationalcityintheworld，whatshallwesayastohowfarwe’vegot？’
`Order！’saidoneofthepolicemen，whohadbeenengagedwithacomradeinopeningthelargedoorsoppositethecollege。`Keepyertonguequiet，myman，whiletheprocessionpasses。’Theraincameonmoreheavily，andallwhohadumbrellasopenedthem。Judewasnotoneofthese，andSueonlypossessedasmallone，halfsunshade。Shehadgrownpale，thoughJudedidnotnoticeitthen。