"Look!" said she.

He looked and read. The paper was one that circulated in South

London only, and the marked advertisement was simply the announcement

of a marriage at St. John's Church, Waterloo Road, under the names,

"CARTLETT--DONN"; the united pair being Arabella and the inn-keeper.

"Well, it is satisfactory," said Sue complacently. "Though, after

this, it seems rather low to do likewise, and I am glad. However,

she is provided for now in a way, I suppose, whatever her faults,

poor thing. It is nicer that we are able to think that, than to be

uneasy about her. I ought, too, to write to Richard and ask him how

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he is getting on, perhaps?"

But Jude's attention was still absorbed. Having merely glanced

at the announcement he said in a disturbed voice: "Listen to this

letter. What shall I say or do?"

THE THREE HORNS, LAMBETH.

DEAR JUDE (I won't be so distant as to call you Mr.

Fawley),--I send to-day a newspaper, from which useful

document you will learn that I was married over again to

Cartlett last Tuesday. So that business is settled right

and tight at last. But what I write about more particular

is that private affair I wanted to speak to you on when I

came down to Aldbrickham. I couldn't very well tell it to

your lady friend, and should much have liked to let you

know it by word of mouth, as I could have explained better

than by letter. The fact is, Jude, that, though I have

never informed you before, there was a boy born of our

marriage, eight months after I left you, when I was at

Sydney, living with my father and mother. All that is

easily provable. As I had separated from you before I

thought such a thing was going to happen, and I was over

there, and our quarrel had been sharp, I did not think it

convenient to write about the birth. I was then looking

out for a good situation, so my parents took the child,

and he has been with them ever since. That was why I did

not mention it when I met you in Christminster, nor at

the law proceedings. He is now of an intelligent age, of

course, and my mother and father have lately written to

say that, as they have rather a hard struggle over there,

and I am settled comfortably here, they don't see why

they should be encumbered with the child any longer, his

parents being alive. I would have him with me here in

a moment, but he is not old enough to be of any use in

the bar nor will be for years and years, and naturally

Cartlett might think him in the way. They have, however,

packed him off to me in charge of some friends who

happened to be coming home, and I must ask you to take

him when he arrives, for I don't know what to do with him.

He is lawfully yours, that I solemnly swear. If anybody

says he isn't, call them brimstone liars, for my sake.

Whatever I may have done before or afterwards, I was

honest to you from the time we were married till I went

away, and I remain, yours, &c., ARABELLA CARTLETT.




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