Owing, however, to their now entering it by another door, and to his

preoccupation, he did not at first recognize the place. When they

had engaged their respective rooms they went down to a late supper.

During Jude's temporary absence the waiting-maid spoke to Sue.

"I think, ma'am, I remember your relation, or friend, or whatever he

is, coming here once before--late, just like this, with his wife--a

lady, at any rate, that wasn't you by no manner of means--jest as med

be with you now."

"Oh do you?" said Sue, with a certain sickness of heart. "Though I

think you must be mistaken! How long ago was it?"

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"About a month or two. A handsome, full-figured woman. They had

this room."

When Jude came back and sat down to supper Sue seemed moping and

miserable. "Jude," she said to him plaintively, at their parting

that night upon the landing, "it is not so nice and pleasant as it

used to be with us! I don't like it here--I can't bear the place!

And I don't like you so well as I did!"

"How fidgeted you seem, dear! Why do you change like this?"

"Because it was cruel to bring me here!"

"Why?"

"You were lately here with Arabella. There, now I have said it!"

"Dear me, why--" said Jude looking round him. "Yes--it is the same!

I really didn't know it, Sue. Well--it is not cruel, since we have

come as we have--two relations staying together."

"How long ago was it you were here? Tell me, tell me!"

"The day before I met you in Christminster, when we went back to

Marygreen together. I told you I had met her."

"Yes, you said you had met her, but you didn't tell me all. Your

story was that you had met as estranged people, who were not husband

and wife at all in Heaven's sight--not that you had made it up with

her."

"We didn't make it up," he said sadly. "I can't explain, Sue."

"You've been false to me; you, my last hope! And I shall never

forget it, never!"

"But by your own wish, dear Sue, we are only to be friends, not

lovers! It is so very inconsistent of you to--"

"Friends can be jealous!"

"I don't see that. You concede nothing to me and I have to concede

everything to you. After all, you were on good terms with your

husband at that time."




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