-believe me
I wouldn't. I want to tell you about it."

Sue remained at gaze, in painful tension, hearing every word, but
speaking none.

"You are not really in want of money, Arabella?" he asked, in a
distinctly softened tone.

"I have enough to pay for the night's lodging I have obtained, but
barely enough to take me back again."

"Where are you living?"

"In London still." She was about to give the address, but she
said, "I am afraid somebody may hear, so I don't like to call out
particulars of myself so loud. If you could come down and walk
a little way with me towards the Prince Inn, where I am staying
to-night, I would explain all. You may as well, for old time's
sake!"

"Poor thing! I must do her the kindness of hearing what's the
matter, I suppose," said Jude in much perplexity. "As she's going
back to-morrow it can't make much difference."

"But you can go and see her to-morrow, Jude! Don't go now, Jude!"
came in plaintive accents from the doorway. "Oh, it is only to
entrap you, I know it is, as she did before! Don't go, dear! She is
such a low-passioned woman--I can see it in her shape, and hear it in
her voice!

"But I shall go," said Jude. "Don't attempt to detain me, Sue. God
knows I love her little enough now, but I don't want to be cruel to
her." He turned to the stairs.

"But she's not your wife!" cried Sue distractedly. "And I--"

"And you are not either, dear, yet," said Jude.

"Oh, but are you going to her? Don't! Stay at home! Please, please
stay at home, Jude, and not go to her, now she's not your wife any
more than I!"

"Well, she is, rather more than you, come to that," he said, taking
his hat determinedly. "I've wanted you to be, and I've waited with
the patience of Job, and I don't see that I've got anything by my
self-denial. I shall certainly give her something, and hear what it
is she is so anxious to tell me; no man could do less!"

There was that in his manner which she knew it would be futile to
oppose. She said no more, but, turning to her room as meekly as a
martyr, heard him go downstairs, unbolt the door, and close it
behind him. With a woman's disregard of her dignity when in the
presence of nobody but herself, she also trotted down, sobbing
articulately as she went. She listened. She knew exactly how far
it was to the inn that Arabella had named as her lodging. It would
occupy about seven minutes to get there at an ordinary walking pace;
seve