have rows, and he turns you out of doors, you can get the
law to protect you, which you can't otherwise, unless he half-runs
you through with a knife, or cracks your noddle with a poker. And
if he bolts away from you--I say it friendly, as woman to woman, for
there's never any knowing what a man med do--you'll have the sticks
o' furniture, and won't be looked upon as a thief. I shall marry my
man over again, now he's willing, as there was a little flaw in the
first ceremony. In my telegram last night which this is an answer
to, I told him I had almost made it up with Jude; and that frightened
him, I expect! Perhaps I should quite have done it if it hadn't been
for you," she said laughing; "and then how different our histories
might have been from to-day! Never such a tender fool as Jude is if
a woman seems in trouble, and coaxes him a bit! Just as he used to
be about birds and things. However, as it happens, it is just as
well as if I had made it up, and I forgive you. And, as I say, I'd
advise you to get the business legally done as soon as possible.
You'll find it an awful bother later on if you don't."

"I have told you he is asking me to marry him--to make our natural
marriage a legal one," said Sue, with yet more dignity. "It was
quite by my wish that he didn't the moment I was free."

"Ah, yes--you are a oneyer too, like myself," said Arabella, eyeing
her visitor with humorous criticism. "Bolted from your first, didn't
you, like me?"

"Good morning!--I must go," said Sue hastily.

"And I, too, must up and off!" replied the other, springing out of
bed so suddenly that the soft parts of her person shook. Sue jumped
aside in trepidation. "Lord, I am only a woman--not a six-foot
sojer! ... Just a moment, dear," she continued, putting her hand on
Sue's arm. "I really did want to consult Jude on a little matter of
business, as I told him. I came about that more than anything else.
Would he run up to speak to me at the station as I am going? You
think not. Well, I'll write to him about it. I didn't want to write
it, but never mind--I will."

III

When Sue reached home Jude was awaiting her at the door to take the
initial step towards their marriage. She clasped his arm, and they
went along silently together, as true comrades oft-times do. He saw
that she was preoccupied, and forbore to question her.

"Oh Jude--I've been talking to her," she said at last. "I wish I
hadn't! And yet it