"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
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.