Page:Hardy - Jude the Obscure, 1896.djvu/327

 She spoke with a child-like, repentant kindness, as if she could not do too much for him.

Phillotson smiled sadly. "You are an odd creature," he murmured, as the sun glowed in his eyes. The idea of your coming to see me after what has passed!"

"Don't let us go back upon that!" she said, quickly. "I have to catch the omnibus for the train, as Jude doesn't know I have come; he was out when I started, so I must return home almost directly. Richard, I am so very glad you are better. You don't hate me, do you? You have been such a kind friend to me."

"I am glad to know you think so," said Phillotson, huskily. "No; I don't hate you!"

It grew dusk quickly in the gloomy room during their intermittent chat, and when candles were brought and it was time to leave, she put her hand in his—or, rather, allowed it to flit through his, for she was significantly light in touch. She had nearly closed the door when he said, "Sue!" He had noticed that, in turning away from him, tears were on her face and a quiver in her lip.

It was bad policy to recall her; he knew it while he pursued it. But he could not help it. She came back.

"Sue," he murmured, "do you wish to make it up, and stay? I'll forgive you, and condone everything!"

"Oh, you can't, you can't!" she said, hastily. "You can't condone it now!"'

"He is your husband now, in effect, you mean, of course?"

"You may assume it. He is obtaining a divorce from his wife Arabella."

"His wife! It is altogether news to me that he has a wife."

"It was a bad marriage."

"Like yours?"

"Like mine. He is not doing it so much on his own account as on hers. She wrote and told him it would be