`Y-youmustforgiveme，littleJude！’shepleaded，herbosomheavingnowasmuchastheboy’s。`Ican’texplain-Iwillwhenyouareolder。
Itdoesseem-asifIhaddoneitonpurpose，nowweareinthesedifficulties！
Ican’texplain，dear！Butit-isnotquiteonpurpose-Ican’thelpit！’
`Yesitis-itmustbe！Fornobodywouldinterferewithus，likethat，unlessyouagreed！Iwon’tforgiveyou，ever，ever！I’llneverbelieveyoucareforme，orFather，oranyofusanymore！’
Hegotup，andwentawayintotheclosetadjoiningherroom，inwhichabedhadbeenspreadonthefloor。Theresheheardhimsay：`Ifwechildrenwasgonethere’dbenotroubleatall！’
`Don’tthinkthat，dear，’shecried，ratherperemptorily。`Butgotosleep！’
Thefollowingmorningsheawokeatalittlepastsix，anddecidedtogetupandrunacrossbeforebreakfasttotheinnwhichJudehadinformedhertobehisquarters，totellhimwhathadhappenedbeforehewentout。
Shearosesoftly，toavoiddisturbingthechildren，who，assheknew，mustbefatiguedbytheirexertionsofyesterday。
ShefoundJudeatbreakfastintheobscuretavernhehadchosenasacounterpoisetotheexpenseofherlodging：andsheexplainedtohimherhomelessness。Hehadbeensoanxiousaboutherallnight，hesaid。
Somehow，nowitwasmorning，therequesttoleavethelodgingsdidnotseemsuchadepressingincidentasithadseemedthenightbefore，nordidevenherfailuretofindanotherplaceaffecthersodeeplyasatfirst。
Judeagreedwithherthatitwouldnotbeworthwhiletoinsistuponherrighttostayaweek，buttotakeimmediatestepsforremoval。
`Youmustallcometothisinnforadayortwo，’hesaid。`Itisaroughplace，anditwillnotbesoniceforthechildren，butweshallhavemoretimetolookround。Thereareplentyoflodgingsinthesuburbs-inmyoldquarterofBeersheba。Havebreakfastwithmenowyouarehere，mybird。Youaresureyouarewell？Therewillbeplentyoftimetogetbackandpreparethechildren’smealbeforetheywake。Infact，I’llgowithyou。’
ShejoinedJudeinahastymeal，andinaquarterofanhourtheystartedtogether，resolvingtoclearoutfromSue’stoorespectablelodgingimmediately。Onreachingtheplaceandgoingupstairsshefoundthatallwasquietinthechildren’sroom，andcalledtothelandladyintimoroustonestopleasebringupthetea-kettleandsomethingfortheirbreakfast。
Thiswasperfunctorilydone，andproducingacoupleofeggswhichshehadbroughtwithhersheputthemintotheboilingkettle，andsummonedJudetowatchthemfortheyoungsters，whileshewenttocallthem，itbeingnowabouthalf-pasteighto’clock。
Judestoodbendingoverthekettle，withhiswatchinhishand，timingtheeggs，sothathisbackwasturnedtothelittleinnerchamberwherethechildrenlay。AshriekfromSuesuddenlycausedhimtostartround。Hesawthatthedooroftheroom，orrathercloset-whichhadseemedtogoheavilyuponitshingesasshepusheditback-wasopen，andthatSuehadsunktothefloorjustwithinit。Hasteningforwardtopickherupheturnedhiseyestothelittlebedspreadontheboards；nochildrenwerethere。Helookedinbewildermentroundtheroom。Atthebackofthedoorwerefixedtwohooksforhanginggarments，andfromthesetheformsofthetwoyoungestchildrenweresuspended，byapieceofbox-cordroundeachoftheirnecks，whilefromanailafewyardsoffthebodyoflittleJudewashanginginasimilarmanner。Anoverturnedchairwasneartheelderboy，andhisglazedeyeswereslantedintotheroom；butthoseofthegirlandthebabyboywereclosed。
Half-paralyzedbythestrangeandconsummatehorrorofthesceneheletSuelie，cutthecordswithhispocket-knifeandthrewthethreechildrenonthebed；butthefeeloftheirbodiesinthemomentaryhandlingseemedtosaythattheyweredead。HecaughtupSue，whowasinfaintingfits，andputheronthebedintheotherroom，afterwhichhebreathlesslysummonedthelandladyandranoutforadoctor。
WhenhegotbackSuehadcometoherself，andthetwohelplesswomen，bendingoverthechildreninwildeffortstorestorethem，andthetripletoflittlecorpses，formedasightwhichoverthrewhisself-command。
Thenearestsurgeoncamein，but，asJudehadinferred，hispresencewassuperfluous。Thechildrenwerepastsaving，forthoughtheirbodieswerestillbarelycolditwasconjecturedthattheyhadbeenhangingmorethananhour。Theprobabilityheldbytheparentslateron，whentheywereabletoreasononthecase，wasthattheelderboy，onwaking，lookedintotheouterroomforSue，and，findingherabsent，wasthrownintoafitofaggravateddespondencythattheeventsandinformationoftheeveningbeforehadinducedinhismorbidtemperament。Moreoverapieceofpaperwasfounduponthefloor，onwhichwaswritten，intheboy’shand，withthebitofleadpencilthathecarried：
Donebecausewearetoomenny。AtsightofthisSue’snervesutterlygaveway，anawfulconvictionthatherdiscoursewiththeboyhadbeenthemaincauseofthetragedy，throwingherintoaconvulsiveagonywhichknewnoabatement。Theycarriedherawayagainstherwishtoaroomonthelowerfloor；andthereshelay，herslightfigureshakenwithhergasps，andhereyesstaringattheceiling，thewomanofthehousevainlytryingtosootheher。
Theycouldhearfromthischamberthepeoplemovingaboutabove，andsheimploredtobeallowedtogoback，andwasonlykeptfromdoingsobytheassurancethat，iftherewereanyhope，herpresencemightdoharm，andthereminderthatitwasnecessarytotakecareofherselflestsheshouldendangeracominglife。Herinquirieswereincessant，andatlastJudecamedownandtoldhertherewasnohope。Assoonasshecouldspeaksheinformedhimwhatshehadsaidtotheboy，andhowshethoughtherselfthecauseofthis。
`No，’saidJude。`Itwasinhisnaturetodoit。Thedoctorsaystherearesuchboysspringingupamongstus-boysofasortunknowninthelastgeneration-theoutcomeofnewviewsoflife。Theyseemtoseeallitsterrorsbeforetheyareoldenoughtohavestayingpowertoresistthem。Hesaysitisthebeginningofthecominguniversalwishnottolive。
He’sanadvancedman，thedoctor：buthecangivenoconsolationto——
’
Judehadkeptbackhisowngriefonaccountofher；buthenowbrokedown；andthisstimulatedSuetoeffortsofsympathywhichinsomedegreedistractedherfromherpoignantself-reproach。Wheneverybodywasgone，shewasallowedtoseethechildren。
Theboy’sfaceexpressedthewholetaleoftheirsituation。OnthatlittleshapehadconvergedalltheinauspiciousnessandshadowwhichhaddarkenedthefirstunionofJude，andalltheaccidents，mistakes，fears，errorsofthelast。Hewastheirnodalpoint，theirfocus，theirexpressioninasingleterm。Fortherashnessofthoseparentshehadgroaned，fortheirillassortmenthehadquaked，andforthemisfortunesofthesehehaddied。
Whenthehousewassilent，andtheycoulddonothingbutawaitthecoroner’sinquest，asubdued，large，lowvoicespreadintotheairoftheroomfrombehindtheheavywallsattheback。
`Whatisit？’saidSue，herspasmodicbreathingsuspended。
`Theorganofthecollegechapel。TheorganistpractisingIsuppose。
It’stheanthemfromtheseventy-thirdPsalm；`TrulyGodislovinguntoIsrael。’’
Shesobbedagain。`Oh，Ohmybabies！Theyhaddonenoharm！Whyshouldtheyhavebeentakenaway，andnotI！’
Therewasanotherstillness-brokenatlastbytwopersonsinconversationsomewherewithout。
`Theyaretalkingaboutus，nodoubt！’moanedSue。`’Wearemadeaspectacleuntotheworld，andtoangels，andtomen！’’
Judelistened-`No-theyarenottalkingofus，’hesaid。`Theyaretwoclergymenofdifferentviews，arguingabouttheeastwardposition。
GoodGod-theeastwardposition，andallcreationgroaning！’
Thenanothersilence，tillshewasseizedwithanotheruncontrollablefitofgrief。`Thereissomethingexternaltouswhichsays，`Youshan’t！’
Firstitsaid，`Youshan’tlearn！’Thenitsaid，`Youshan’tlabour！’Nowitsays，`Youshan’tlove！’’
Hetriedtosootheherbysaying，`That’sbitterofyou，darling。’
`Butit’strue！’
Thustheywaited，andshewentbackagaintoherroom。Thebaby’sfrock，shoes，andsocks，whichhadbeenlyingonachairatthetimeofhisdeath，shewouldnotnowhaveremoved，thoughJudewouldfainhavegotthemoutofhersight。Butwheneverhetouchedthemsheimploredhimtoletthemlie，andburstoutalmostsavagelyatthewomanofthehousewhenshealsoattemptedtoputthemaway。
Judedreadedherdullapatheticsilencesalmostmorethanherparoxysms。`Whydon’tyouspeaktome，Jude？’shecriedout，afteroneofthese。`Don’tturnawayfromme！Ican’tbearthelonelinessofbeingoutofyourlooks！’
`There，dear；hereIam，’hesaid，puttinghisfaceclosetohers。
`Yes……Oh，mycomrade，ourperfectunion-ourtwo-in-oneness-isnowstainedwithblood！’
`Shadowedbydeath-that’sall。’
`Ah；butitwasIwhoincitedhimreally，thoughIdidn’tknowIwasdoingit！Italkedtothechildasoneshouldonlytalktopeopleofmatureage。Isaidtheworldwasagainstus，thatitwasbettertobeoutoflifethaninitatthisprice；andhetookitliterally。AndItoldhimIwasgoingtohaveanotherchild。Itupsethim。Ohhowbitterlyheupbraidedme！’
`Whydidyoudoit，Sue？’
`Ican’ttell。ItwasthatIwantedtobetruthful。Icouldn’tbeardeceivinghimastothefactsoflife。AndyetIwasn’ttruthful，forwithafalsedelicacyItoldhimtooobscurely-WhywasIhalf-wiserthanmyfellow-women？Andnotentirelywiser！Whydidn’tItellhimpleasantuntruths，insteadofhalf-realities？Itwasmywantofself-control，sothatIcouldneitherconcealthingsnorrevealthem！’
`Yourplanmighthavebeenagoodoneforthemajorityofcases；
onlyinourpeculiarcaseitchancedtoworkbadlyperhaps。Hemusthaveknownsoonerorlater。’
`AndIwasjustmakingmybabydarlinganewfrock；andnowI
shallneverseehiminit，andnevertalktohimanymore！……MyeyesaresoswollenthatIcanscarcelysee；andyetlittlemorethanayearagoIcalledmyselfhappy！Wewentaboutlovingeachothertoomuch-indulgingourselvestoutterselfishnesswitheachother！Wesaid-doyouremember？-
thatwewouldmakeavirtueofjoy。IsaiditwasNature’sintention，Nature’slawandraisond’ê；trethatweshouldbejoyfulinwhatinstinctssheaffordedus-instinctswhichcivilizationhadtakenuponitselftothwart。WhatdreadfulthingsIsaid！AndnowFatehasgivenusthisstabinthebackforbeingsuchfoolsastotakeNatureatherword！’
Shesankintoaquietcontemplation，tillshesaid，`Itisbest，perhaps，thattheyshouldbegone-Yes-Iseeitis！Betterthattheyshouldbepluckedfreshthanstaytowitherawaymiserably！’
`Yes，’repliedJude。`Somesaythattheeldersshouldrejoicewhentheirchildrendieininfancy。’
`Buttheydon’tknow！……Ohmybabies，mybabies，couldyoubealivenow！Youmaysaytheboywishedtobeoutoflife，orhewouldn’thavedoneit。Itwasnotunreasonableforhimtodie：itwaspartofhisincurablysadnature，poorlittlefellow！Butthentheothers-myownchildrenandyours！’
AgainSuelookedatthehanginglittlefrockandatthesocksandshoes；andherfigurequiveredlikeastring。`Iamapitiablecreature，’
shesaid，`goodneitherforearthnorheavenanymore！Iamdrivenoutofmymindbythings！Whatoughttobedone？’ShestaredatJude，andtightlyheldhishand。
`Nothingcanbedone，’hereplied。`Thingsareastheyare，andwillbebroughttotheirdestinedissue。’
Shepaused。`Yes！Whosaidthat？’sheaskedheavily。
`ItcomesinthechorusoftheAgamemnon。Ithasbeeninmymindcontinuallysincethishappened。’
`MypoorJude-howyou’vemissedeverything！-youmorethanI，forIdidgetyou！Tothinkyoushouldknowthatbyyourunassistedreading，andyetbeinpovertyanddespair！’
Aftersuchmomentarydiversionshergriefwouldreturninawave。
Thejurydulycameandviewedthebodies，theinquestwasheld；
andnextarrivedthemelancholymorningofthefuneral。Accountsinthenewspapershadbroughttothespotcuriousidlers，whostoodapparentlycountingthewindow-panesandthestonesofthewalls。Doubtoftherealrelationsofthecoupleaddedzesttotheircuriosity。Suehaddeclaredthatshewouldfollowthetwolittleonestothegrave，butatthelastmomentshegaveway，andthecoffinswerequietlycarriedoutofthehousewhileshewaslyingdown。Judegotintothevehicle，anditdroveaway，muchtothereliefofthelandlord，whonowhadonlySueandherluggageremainingonhishands，whichhehopedtobealsoclearoflateronintheday，andsotohavefreedhishousefromtheexasperatingnotorietyithadacquiredduringtheweekthroughhiswife’sunluckyadmissionofthesestrangers。Intheafternoonheprivatelyconsultedwiththeownerofthehouse，andtheyagreedthatifanyobjectiontoitarosefromthetragedywhichhadoccurredtheretheywouldtrytogetitsnumberchanged。
WhenJudehadseenthetwolittleboxes-onecontaininglittleJude，andtheotherthetwosmallest-depositedintheearthhehastenedbacktoSue，whowasstillinherroom，andhethereforedidnotdisturbherjustthen。Feelinganxious，however，hewentagainaboutfouro’clock。
Thewomanthoughtshewasstilllyingdown，butreturnedtohimtosaythatshewasnotinherbedroomafterall。Herhatandjacket，too，weremissing：shehadgoneout。Judehurriedofftothepublichousewherehewassleeping。Shehadnotbeenthere。Thenbethinkinghimselfofpossibilitieshewentalongtheroadtothecemetery，whichheentered，andcrossedtowheretheintermentshadrecentlytakenplace。Theidlerswhohadfollowedtothespotbyreasonofthetragedywereallgonenow。Amanwithashovelinhishandswasattemptingtoearthinthecommongraveofthethreechildren，buthisarmwasheldbackbyanexpostulatingwomanwhostoodinthehalf-filledhole。ItwasSue，whosecolouredclothing，whichshehadneverthoughtofchangingforthemourninghehadbought，suggestedtotheeyeadeepergriefthantheconventionalgarbofbereavementcouldexpress。
`He’sfillingthemin，andheshan’ttillI’veseenmylittleonesagain！’shecriedwildlywhenshesawJude。`Iwanttoseethemoncemore。OhJude-pleaseJude-Iwanttoseethem！Ididn’tknowyouwouldletthembetakenawaywhileIwasasleep！YousaidperhapsIshouldseethemoncemorebeforetheywerescreweddown；andthenyoudidn’t，buttookthemaway！OhJude，youarecrueltometoo！’