Page:Hardy - Jude the Obscure, 1896.djvu/391

 "Oh, but it is serious, all the same!" she sighed, as she took up the brush and righted herself. But do you see they don't think we are married? They won't believe it! It is extraordinary!"

"I don't care whether they think so or not," said Jude. "I sha'n't take any more trouble to make them."

They sat down to lunch—which they had brought with them, not to hinder time—and, having eaten it, were about to set to work anew, when a man entered the church, and Jude recognized in him the contractor Willis. He beckoned to Jude, and spoke to him apart.

"Here, I've just had a complaint about this," he said, with rather breathless awkwardness. "I don't wish to go into the matter—as, of course, I didn't know what was going on—but I am afraid I must ask you and her to leave off, and let somebody else finish this! It is best, to avoid all unpleasantness. I'll pay you for the week, all the same."

Jude was too independent to make any fuss, and the contractor paid him and left. Jude picked up his tools, and Sue cleansed her brush. Then their eyes met.

"How could we—be so simple—as to suppose we might do this!" said she, dropping to her tragic note. "Of course we ought not—I ought not—to have come!"

"I had no idea that anybody was going to intrude into such a lonely place and see us!" Jude returned. "Well, it can't be helped, dear; and, of course, I wouldn't wish to injure Willis's trade-connection by staying." They sat down passively for a few minutes, proceeded out of the church, and, overtaking the boy, pursued their thoughtful way to Aldbrickham.

Fawley had still a pretty zeal in the cause of education, and, as was natural with his experiences, he was active in furthering "equality of opportunity" by any humble means open to him. He had joined an Artisans' Mutual Improvement Society, established in the town about the time of his arrival there; its members being young men