Page:Hardy - Jude the Obscure, 1896.djvu/75

 come in a moment?" she asked, lightly. "We shall be all alone."

"Certainly," said Jude, with alacrity, the case being unexpectedly altered.

In-doors they went. Did he want any tea? No, it was She took too late; he would rather sit and talk to her off her jacket and hat, and they sat down—naturally enough close together.

"Don't touch me, please," she said, softly. "I am part egg-shell. Or perhaps I had better put it in a safe place." She began unfastening the collar of her gown.

"What is it?" said her lover.

"An egg—a bantam's egg. I am hatching a very rare sort. I carry it about everywhere with me, and it will get hatched in less than three weeks."

"Where do you carry it?"

"Just here." She put her hand into her bosom and drew out the egg, which was wrapped in wool, outside it being a piece of pig's bladder, in case of accidents. Having exhibited it to him, she put it back. "Now, mind, you don't come near me. I don't want to get it broke, and have to begin another."

"Why do you do such a strange thing?"

"Just for a fancy. I suppose it is natural for a woman? to want to bring live things into the world."

"It is very awkward for me just now," he said, laughing.

"It serves you right. There—that's all you can have of me." She had turned round her chair, and reaching over the back of it presented her cheek to him gingerly.

"That's very shabby of you!"

"You should have catched me a minute ago when I had put the egg down! There!" she said, defiantly, "I am without it now!" She had quickly withdrawn the egg a second time; but before he could quite reach her she had put it back as quickly, laughing with the excitement of her strategy. Then there was a little struggle,