`Ido，Ido！Cleverwoman！Butyoumustbepreparedfortheconsequences。’
Puttinghisarmroundhershouldershekissedherthereandthen。
`Don’tdon’t，’shewhispered，laughinggood-humouredly。`Mymanwillhear。’
Shelethimoutofthehouse，andasshewentbackshesaidtoherself：`Well！Weakwomenmustprovideforarainyday。Andifmypoorfellowupstairsdogooff-asIsupposehewillsoon-it’swelltokeepchancesopen。AndIcan’tpickandchoosenowasIcouldwhenIwasyounger。
Andonemusttaketheoldifonecan’tgettheyoung。’
JudetheObscureChapter53VI-xiThelastpagestowhichthechronicleroftheseliveswouldaskthereader’sattentionareconcernedwiththesceneinandoutofJude’sbedroomwhenleafysummercameroundagain。
Hisfacewasnowsothinthathisoldfriendswouldhardlyhaveknownhim。Itwasafternoon，andArabellawasatthelooking-glasscurlingherhair，whichoperationsheperformedbyheatinganumbrella-stayintheflameofacandleshehadlighted，andusingitupontheflowinglock。
Whenshehadfinishedthis，practisedadimple，andputonherthings，shecasthereyesrounduponJude。Heseemedtobesleeping，thoughhispositionwasanelevatedone，hismaladypreventinghimlyingdown。
Arabella，hatted，gloved，andready，satdownandwaited，asifexpectingsomeonetocomeandtakeherplaceasnurse。
Certainsoundsfromwithoutrevealedthatthetownwasinfestivity，thoughlittleofthefestival，whateveritmighthavebeen，couldbeseenhere。Bellsbegantoring，andthenotescameintotheroomthroughtheopenwindow，andtravelledroundJude’sheadinahum。Theymadeherrestless，andatlastshesaidtoherself：`Whyeverdoesn’tFathercome！’
ShelookedagainatJude，criticallygaugedhisebbinglife，asshehaddonesomanytimesduringthelatemonths，andglancingathiswatch，whichwashungupbywayoftimepiece，roseimpatiently。Stillheslept，andcomingtoaresolutionsheslippedfromtheroom，closedthedoornoiselessly，anddescendedthestairs。Thehousewasempty。TheattractionwhichmovedArabellatogoabroadhadevidentlydrawnawaytheotherinmateslongbefore。
Itwasawarm，cloudless，enticingday。Sheshutthefrontdoor，andhastenedroundintoChiefStreet，andwhennearthetheatrecouldhearthenotesoftheorgan，arehearsalforacomingconcertbeinginprogress。
SheenteredunderthearchwayofOldgateCollege，wheremenwereputtingupawningsroundthequadrangleforaballinthehallthatevening。Peoplewhohadcomeupfromthecountryforthedaywerepicnickingonthegrass，andArabellawalkedalongthegravelpathsandundertheagedlimes。Butfindingthisplaceratherdullshereturnedtothestreets，andwatchedthecarriagesdrawingupfortheconcert，numerousdonsandtheirwives，andundergraduateswithgayfemalecompanions，crowdinguplikewise。Whenthedoorswereclosed，andtheconcertbegan，shemovedon。
Thepowerfulnotesofthatconcertrolledforththroughtheswingingyellowblindsoftheopenwindows，overthehousetops，andintothestillairofthelanes。TheyreachedsofarastotheroominwhichJudelay；
anditwasaboutthistimethathiscoughbeganagainandawakenedhim。
Assoonashecouldspeakhemurmured，hiseyesstillclosed：
`Alittlewater，please。’
Nothingbutthedesertedroomreceivedhisappeal，andhecoughedtoexhaustionagain-sayingstillmorefeebly：`Water-somewater-Sue-Arabella！’
Theroomremainedstillasbefore。Presentlyhegaspedagain：
`Throat-water-Sue-darling-dropofwater-please-ohplease！’
Nowatercame，andtheorgannotes，faintasabee’shum，rolledinasbefore。
Whileheremained，hisfacechanging，shoutsandhurrahscamefromsomewhereinthedirectionoftheriver。
`Ah-yes！TheRemembrancegames，’hemurmured。`AndIhere。AndSuedefiled！’
Thehurrahswererepeated，drowningthefaintorgannotes。Jude’sfacechangedmore：hewhisperedslowly，hisparchedlipsscarcelymoving：
`LetthedayperishwhereinIwasborn，andthenightinwhichitwassaid，thereisAman-childconceived。’
`Hurrah！’
`Letthatdaybedarkness；letnotgodregarditfromabove，neitherletthelightshineuponit。Lo，letthatnightbesolitary，letnojoyfulvoicecometherein。’
`Hurrah！’
`WhydiedInotfromthewomb？WhydidInotgiveuptheghostwhenIcameoutofthebelly？……FornowshouldIhavelainstillandbeenquiet。Ishouldhaveslept：thenhadIbeenatrest！’
`Hurrah！’
`Theretheprisonersresttogether；theyhearnotthevoiceoftheoppressor……thesmallandthegreatarethere；andtheservantisfreefromhismaster。Whereforeislightgiventohimthatisinmisery，andlifeuntothebitterinsoul？’
MeanwhileArabella，inherjourneytodiscoverwhatwasgoingon，tookashortcutdownanarrowstreetandthroughanobscurenookintothequadofCardinal。Itwasfullofbustle，andbrilliantinthesunlightwithflowersandotherpreparationsforaballherealso。Acarpenternoddedtoher，onewhohadformerlybeenafellow-workmanofJude’s。Acorridorwasincourseoferectionfromtheentrancetothehallstaircase，ofgayredandbuffbunting。Waggon-loadsofboxescontainingbrightplantsinfullbloomwerebeingplacedabout，andthegreatstaircasewascoveredwithredcloth。Shenoddedtooneworkmanandanother，andascendedtothehallonthestrengthoftheiracquaintance，wheretheywereputtingdownanewflooranddecoratingforthedance。
Thecathedralbellcloseathandwassoundingforfiveo’clockservice。
`Ishouldnotmindhavingaspintherewithafellow’sarmroundmywaist，’shesaidtooneofthemen。`ButLord，Imustbegettinghomeagain-there’salottodo。Nodancingforme！’
WhenshereachedhomeshewasmetatthedoorbyStagg，andoneortwootherofJude’sfellowstoneworkers。`Wearejustgoingdowntotheriver，’saidtheformer，`toseetheboat-bumping。Butwe’vecalledroundonourwaytoaskhowyourhusbandis。’
`He’ssleepingnicely，thankyou，’saidArabella。
`That’sright。Wellnow，can’tyougiveyourselfhalfanhour’srelaxation，Mrs。Fawley，andcomealongwithus？’Twoulddoyougood。’
`Ishouldliketogo，’saidshe。`I’veneverseentheboat-racing，andIhearitisgoodfun。’
`Comealong！’
`HowIwishIcould！’Shelookedlonginglydownthestreet。
`Waitaminute，then。I’lljustrunupandseehowheisnow。Fatheriswithhim，Ibelieve；soIcanmostlikelycome。’
Theywaited，andsheentered。Downstairstheinmateswereabsentasbefore，having，infact，goneinabodytotheriverwheretheprocessionofboatswastopass。Whenshereachedthebedroomshefoundthatherfatherhadnotevennowcome。
`Whycouldn’thehavebeenhere！’shesaidimpatiently。`Hewantstoseetheboatshimself-that’swhatitis！’
However，onlookingroundtothebedshebrightened，forshesawthatJudewasapparentlysleeping，thoughhewasnotintheusualhalf-elevatedposturenecessitatedbyhiscough。Hehadslippeddown，andlayflat。A
secondglancecausedhertostart，andshewenttothebed。Hisfacewasquitewhite，andgraduallybecomingrigid。Shetouchedhisfingers；theywerecold，thoughhisbodywasstillwarm。Shelistenedathischest。Allwasstillwithin。Thebumpingofnearthirtyyearshadceased。
Afterherfirstappalledsenseofwhathadhappenedthefaintnotesofamilitaryorotherbrassbandfromtheriverreachedherears；
andinaprovokedtonesheexclaimed，`Tothinkheshoulddiejustnow！
Whydidhediejustnow！’Thenmeditatinganothermomentortwoshewenttothedoor，softlycloseditasbefore，andagaindescendedthestairs。
`Heresheis！’saidoneoftheworkmen。`Wewonderedifyouwerecomingafterall。Comealong；wemustbequicktogetagoodplace……
Well，howishe？Sleepingwellstill？Ofcourse，wedon’twanttodrag’eeawayif-’
`Ohyes-sleepingquitesound。Hewon’twakeyet，’shesaidhurriedly。
TheywentwiththecrowddownCardinalStreet，wheretheypresentlyreachedthebridge，andthegaybargesburstupontheirview。Thencetheypassedbyanarrowslitdowntotheriversidepath-nowdusty，hot，andthronged。Almostassoonastheyhadarrivedthegrandprocessionofboatsbegan；theoarssmackingwithaloudkissonthefaceofthestream，astheywereloweredfromtheperpendicular。
`Oh，Isay-howjolly！I’mgladI’vecome，’saidArabella。`And-itcan’thurtmyhusband-mybeingaway。’
Ontheoppositesideoftheriver，onthecrowdedbarges，weregorgeousnosegaysoffemininebeauty，fashionablyarrayedingreen，pink，blue，andwhite。Theblueflagoftheboatclubdenotedthecentreofinterest，beneathwhichabandinreduniformgaveoutthenotesshehadalreadyheardinthedeath-chamber。Collegiansofallsorts，incanoeswithladies，watchingkeenlyfor`our’boat，dartedupanddown。WhilesheregardedthelivelyscenesomebodytouchedArabellaintheribs，andlookingroundshesawVilbert。
`Thatphiltreisoperating，youknow！’hesaidwithaleer。`Shameon’eetowreckaheartso！’
`Ishan’ttalkofloveto-day。’
`Whynot？Itisageneralholiday。’
Shedidnotreply。Vilbert’sarmstoleroundherwaist，whichactcouldbeperformedunobservedinthecrowd。AnarchexpressionoverspreadArabella’sfaceatthefeelofthearm，butshekepthereyesontheriverasifshedidnotknowoftheembrace。
Thecrowdsurged，pushingArabellaandherfriendssometimesnearlyintotheriver，andshewouldhavelaughedheartilyatthehorse-playthatsucceeded，iftheimprintonhermind’seyeofapale，statuesquecountenanceshehadlatelygazeduponhadnotsoberedheralittle。
Thefunonthewaterreachedtheacmeofexcitement；therewereimmersions，therewereshouts：theracewaslostandwon，thepinkandblueandyellowladiesretiredfromthebarges，andthepeoplewhohadwatchedbegantomove。
`Well-it’sbeenawfullygood，’criedArabella。`ButIthinkImustgetbacktomypoorman。Fatheristhere，sofarasIknow；butIhadbettergetback。’
`What’syourhurry？’
`Well，Imustgo……Dear，dear，thisisawkward！’
Atthenarrowgangwaywherethepeopleascendedfromtheriversidepathtothebridgethecrowdwasliterallyjammedintoonehotmass-ArabellaandVilbertwiththerest；andheretheyremainedmotionless，Arabellaexclaiming，`Dear，dear！’moreandmoreimpatiently；forithadjustoccurredtohermindthatifJudewerediscoveredtohavediedaloneaninquestmightbedeemednecessary。
`Whatafidgetyouare，mylove，’saidthephysician，who，beingpressedcloseagainstherbythethrong，hadnoneedofpersonaleffortforcontact。`Justaswellhavepatience：there’snogettingawayyet！’
Itwasnearlytenminutesbeforethewedgedmultitudemovedsufficientlytoletthempassthrough。AssoonasshegotupintothestreetArabellahastenedon，forbiddingthephysiciantoaccompanyherfurtherthatday。
Shedidnotgostraighttoherhouse；buttotheabodeofawomanwhoperformedthelastnecessaryofficesforthepoorerdead；wheresheknocked。
`Myhusbandhasjustgone，poorsoul，’shesaid。`Canyoucomeandlayhimout？’
Arabellawaitedafewminutes；andthetwowomenwentalong，elbowingtheirwaythroughthestreamoffashionablepeoplepouringoutofCardinalmeadow，andbeingnearlyknockeddownbythecarriages。
`Imustcallatthesexton’saboutthebell，too，’saidArabella。
`Itisjustroundhere，isn’tit？I’llmeetyouatmydoor。’
Byteno’clockthatnightJudewaslyingonthebedsteadathislodgingcoveredwithasheet，andstraightasanarrow。Throughthepartlyopenedwindowthejoyousthrobofawaltzenteredfromtheball-roomatCardinal。
Twodayslater，whentheskywasequallycloudless，andtheairequallystill，twopersonsstoodbesideJude’sopencoffininthesamelittlebedroom。OnonesidewasArabella，ontheothertheWidowEdlin。
TheywerebothlookingatJude’sface，thewornoldeyelidsofMrs。Edlinbeingred。
`Howbeautifulheis！’saidshe。
`Yes。He’sa’andsomecorpse，’saidArabella。
Thewindowwasstillopentoventilatetheroom，anditbeingaboutnoontidetheclearairwasmotionlessandquietwithout。Fromadistancecamevoices；andanapparentnoiseofpersonsstamping。
`What’sthat？’murmuredtheoldwoman。
`Oh，that’sthedoctorsinthetheatre，conferringhonorarydegreesontheDukeofHamptonshireandalotmoreillustriousgentsofthatsort。
It’sRemembranceWeek，youknow。Thecheerscomefromtheyoungmen。’
`Aye；youngandstrong-lunged！Notlikeourpoorboyhere。’
Anoccasionalword，asfromsomeonemakingaspeech，floatedfromtheopenwindowsofthetheatreacrosstothisquietcorner，atwhichthereseemedtobeasmileofsomesortuponthemarblefeaturesofJude；
whiletheold，superseded，DelphineditionsofVirgilandHorace，andthedog-earedGreekTestamentontheneighbouringshelf，andthefewothervolumesofthesortthathehadnotpartedwith，roughenedwithstone-dustwherehehadbeeninthehabitofcatchingthemupforafewminutesbetweenhislabours，seemedtopaletoasicklycastatthesounds。Thebellsstruckoutjoyously；andtheirreverberationstravelledroundthebed-room。
Arabella’seyesremovedfromJudetoMrs。Edlin。`D’yethinkshewillcome？’sheasked。
`Icouldnotsay。Shesworenottoseehimagain。’
`Howisshelooking？’
`Tiredandmiserable，poorheart。Yearsandyearsolderthanwhenyousawherlast。Quiteastaid，wornwomannow。’Tistheman-shecan’tstomachun，evennow！’
`IfJudehadbeenalivetoseeher，hewouldhardlyhavecaredforheranymore，perhaps。’
`That’swhatwedon’tknow……Didn’theeveraskyoutosendforher，sincehecametoseeherinthatstrangeway？’
`No。Quitethecontrary。Iofferedtosend，andhesaidIwasnottoletherknowhowillhewas。’
`Didheforgiveher？’
`NotasIknow。’
`Well-poorlittlething，’tistobebelievedshe’sfoundforgivenesssomewhere！Shesaidshehadfoundpeace！
`Shemayswearthatonherkneestotheholycrossuponhernecklacetillshe’shoarse，butitwon’tbetrue！’saidArabella。`She’sneverfoundpeacesinceshelefthisarms，andneverwillagaintillshe’sasheisnow！