I-iTheschoolmasterwasleavingthevillage，andeverybodyseemedsorry。ThemilleratCresscombelenthimthesmallwhitetiltedcartandhorsetocarryhisgoodstothecityofhisdestination，abouttwentymilesoff，suchavehicleprovingofquitesufficientsizeforthedepartingteacher’seffects。Fortheschoolhousehadbeenpartlyfurnishedbythemanagers，andtheonlycumbersomearticlepossessedbythemaster，inadditiontothepacking-caseofbooks，wasacottagepianothathehadboughtatanauctionduringtheyearinwhichhethoughtoflearninginstrumentalmusic。

Buttheenthusiasmhavingwanedhehadneveracquiredanyskillinplaying，andthepurchasedarticlehadbeenaperpetualtroubletohimeversinceinmovinghouse。

Therectorhadgoneawayfortheday，beingamanwhodislikedthesightofchanges。Hedidnotmeantoreturntilltheevening，whenthenewschool-teacherwouldhavearrivedandsettledin，andeverythingwouldbesmoothagain。

Theblacksmith，thefarmbailiff，andtheschoolmasterhimselfwerestandinginperplexedattitudesintheparlourbeforetheinstrument。

ThemasterhadremarkedthatevenifhegotitintothecartheshouldnotknowwhattodowithitonhisarrivalatChristminster，thecityhewasboundfor，sincehewasonlygoingintotemporarylodgingsjustatfirst。

Alittleboyofeleven，whohadbeenthoughtfullyassistinginthepacking，joinedthegroupofmen，andastheyrubbedtheirchinshespokeup，blushingatthesoundofhisownvoice：`Aunthavegotagreatfuel-house，anditcouldbeputthere，perhaps，tillyou’vefoundaplacetosettlein，sir。’

`Apropergoodnotion，’saidtheblacksmith。

Itwasdecidedthatadeputationshouldwaitontheboy’saunt-anoldmaidenresident-andaskherifshewouldhousethepianotillMr。Phillotsonshouldsendforit。Thesmithandthebailiffstartedtoseeaboutthepracticabilityofthesuggestedshelter，andtheboyandtheschoolmasterwereleftstandingalone。

`SorryIamgoing，Jude？’askedthelatterkindly。

Tearsroseintotheboy’seyes，forhewasnotamongtheregulardayscholars，whocameunromanticallyclosetotheschoolmaster’slife，butonewhohadattendedthenightschoolonlyduringthepresentteacher’stermofoffice。Theregularscholars，ifthetruthmustbetold，stoodatthepresentmomentafaroff，likecertainhistoricdisciples，indisposedtoanyenthusiasticvolunteeringofaid。

Theboyawkwardlyopenedthebookheheldinhishand，whichMr。

Phillotsonhadbestowedonhimasapartinggift，andadmittedthathewassorry。

`SoamI，’saidMr。Phillotson。

`Whydoyougo，sir？’askedtheboy。

`Ah-thatwouldbealongstory。Youwouldn’tunderstandmyreasons，Jude。Youwill，perhaps，whenyouareolder。’

`IthinkIshouldnow，sir。’

`Well-don’tspeakofthiseverywhere。Youknowwhatauniversityis，andauniversitydegree？Itisthenecessaryhallmarkofamanwhowantstodoanythinginteaching。Myscheme，ordream，istobeauniversitygraduate，andthentobeordained。BygoingtoliveatChristminster，ornearit，Ishallbeatheadquarters，sotospeak，andifmyschemeispracticableatall，IconsiderthatbeingonthespotwillaffordmeabetterchanceofcarryingitoutthanIshouldhaveelsewhere。’

Thesmithandhiscompanionreturned。OldMissFawley’sfuel-housewasdry，andeminentlypracticable；andsheseemedwillingtogivetheinstrumentstanding-roomthere。Itwasaccordinglyleftintheschooltilltheevening，whenmorehandswouldbeavailableforremovingit；andtheschoolmastergaveafinalglanceround。

TheboyJudeassistedinloadingsomesmallarticles，andatnineo’clockMr。Phillotsonmountedbesidehisboxofbooksandotherimpedimenta，andbadehisfriendsgood-bye。

`Ishan’tforgetyou，Jude，’hesaid，smiling，asthecartmovedoff。`Beagoodboy，remember；andbekindtoanimalsandbirds，andreadallyoucan。AndifeveryoucometoChristminsterrememberyouhuntmeoutforoldacquaintance’sake。’

Thecartcreakedacrossthegreen，anddisappearedroundthecornerbytherectory-house。Theboyreturnedtothedraw-wellattheedgeofthegreensward，wherehehadlefthisbucketswhenhewenttohelphispatronandteacherintheloading。Therewasaquiverinhislipnowandafteropeningthewell-covertobeginloweringthebuckethepausedandleantwithhisforeheadandarmsagainsttheframework，hisfacewearingthefixityofathoughtfulchild’swhohasfeltthepricksoflifesomewhatbeforehistime。Thewellintowhichhewaslookingwasasancientasthevillageitself，andfromhispresentpositionappearedasalongcircularperspectiveendinginashiningdiskofquiveringwateratadistanceofahundredfeetdown。Therewasaliningofgreenmossnearthetop，andnearerstillthehart’s-tonguefern。

Hesaidtohimself，inthemelodramatictonesofawhimsicalboy，thattheschoolmasterhaddrawnatthatwellscoresoftimesonamorninglikethis，andwouldneverdrawthereanymore。`I’veseenhimlookdownintoit，whenhewastiredwithhisdrawing，justasIdonow，andwhenherestedabitbeforecarryingthebucketshome！Buthewastooclevertobidehereanylonger-asmallsleepyplacelikethis！’

Atearrolledfromhiseyeintothedepthsofthewell。Themorningwasalittlefoggy，andtheboy’sbreathingunfurleditselfasathickerfoguponthestillandheavyair。Histhoughtswereinterruptedbyasuddenoutcry：

`Bringonthatwater，willye，youidleyoungharlican！’

Itcamefromanoldwomanwhohademergedfromherdoortowardsthegardengateofagreen-thatchedcottagenotfaroff。Theboyquicklywavedasignalofassent，drewthewaterwithwhatwasagreateffortforoneofhisstature，landedandemptiedthebigbucketintohisownpairofsmallerones，andpausingamomentforbreath，startedwiththemacrossthepatchofclammygreenswardwhereonthewellstood-nearlyinthecentreofthelittlevillage，orratherhamletofMarygreen。

Itwasasold-fashionedasitwassmall，anditrestedinthelapofanundulatinguplandadjoiningtheNorthWessexdowns。Oldasitwas，however，thewell-shaftwasprobablytheonlyrelicofthelocalhistorythatremainedabsolutelyunchanged。Manyofthethatchedanddormereddwelling-houseshadbeenpulleddownoflateyears，andmanytreesfelledonthegreen。

Aboveall，theoriginalchurch，hump-backed，wood-turreted，andquaintlyhipped，hadbeentakendown，andeithercrackedupintoheapsofroad-metalinthelane，orutilizedaspig-stywalls，gardenseats，guard-stonestofences，androckeriesintheflower-bedsoftheneighbourhood。InplaceofitatallnewbuildingofmodernGothicdesign，unfamiliartoEnglisheyes，hadbeenerectedonanewpieceofgroundbyacertainobliteratorofhistoricrecordswhohadrundownfromLondonandbackinaday。ThesitewhereonsolonghadstoodtheancienttempletotheChristiandivinitieswasnotevenrecordedonthegreenandlevelgrass-plotthathadimmemoriallybeenthechurchyard，theobliteratedgravesbeingcommemoratedbyeighteen-pennycastironcrosseswarrantedtolastfiveyears。

JudetheObscureChapter02I-iiSlenderaswasJudeFawley’sframeheborethetwobrimminghouse-bucketsofwatertothecottagewithoutresting。Overthedoorwasalittlerectangularpieceofblueboard，onwhichwaspaintedinyellowletters，`DrusillaFawley，Baker。’Withinthelittleleadpanesofthewindow-thisbeingoneofthefewoldhousesleft-werefivebottlesofsweets，andthreebunsonaplateofthewillowpattern。

Whileemptyingthebucketsatthebackofthehousehecouldhearananimatedconversationinprogresswithin-doorsbetweenhisgreat-aunt，theDrusillaofthesign-board，andsomeothervillagers。Havingseentheschool-masterdepart，theyweresummingupparticularsoftheevent，andindulginginpredictionsofhisfuture。

`Andwho’she？’askedone，comparativelyastranger，whentheboyentered。

`Wellyemedaskit，Mrs。Williams。He’smygreat-nephew-comesinceyouwaslastthisway。’Theoldinhabitantwhoansweredwasatall，gauntwoman，whospoketragicallyonthemosttrivialsubject，andgaveaphraseofherconversationtoeachauditorinturn。`HecomefromMellstock，downinSouthWessex，aboutayearago-worseluckfor’n，Belinda’(turningtotheright)`wherehisfatherwasliving，andwastookwi’theshakingsfordeath，anddiedintwodays，asyouknow，Caroline’(turningtotheleft)。`Itwouldha’beenablessingifGoddy-mightyhadtooktheetoo，wi’thymotherandfather，pooruselessboy！ButI’vegothimheretostaywithmetillIcanseewhat’stobedonewithun，thoughIamobligedtolethimearnanypennyhecan。Justnowhe’sa-scaringofbirdsforFarmerTroutham。Itkeepshimoutofmischty。Whydoyeturnaway，Jude？’shecontinued，astheboy，feelingtheimpactoftheirglanceslikeslapsuponhisface，movedaside。

ThelocalwasherwomanrepliedthatitwasperhapsaverygoodplanofMissorMrs。Fawley’s(astheycalledherindifferently)tohavehimwithher-`tokip’eecompanyinyourloneliness，fetchwater，shetthewinder-shet-terso’nights，andhelpinthebito’baking。’

MissFawleydoubtedit……`Whydidn’tyegettheschoolmastertotake’eetoChristminsterwi’un，andmakeascholarof’ee，’shecontinued，infrowningpleasantry。`I’msurehecouldn’tha’tookabetterone。Theboyiscrazyforbooks，thatheis。Itrunsinourfamilyrather。HiscousinSueisjustthesame-soI’veheard；butIhavenotseenthechildforyears，thoughshewasborninthisplace，withinthesefourwalls，asithappened。Mynieceandherhusband，aftertheyweremarried，didn’getahouseoftheirownforsomeyearormore；andthentheyonlyhadonetill-Well，Iwon’tgointothat。Jude，mychild，don’tyouevermarry。

’Tisn’tfortheFawleystotakethatstepanymore。She，theironlyone，waslikeachildo’myown，Belinda，tillthesplitcome！Ah，thatalittlemaidshouldknowsuchchanges！’

Jude，findingthegeneralattentionagaincenteringonhimself，wentouttothebakehouse，whereheatethecakeprovidedforhisbreakfast。

Theendofhissparetimehadnowarrived，andemergingfromthegardenbygettingoverthehedgeatthebackhepursuedapathnorthward，tillhecametoawideandlonelydepressioninthegeneralleveloftheupland，whichwassownasacorn-field。ThisvastconcavewasthesceneofhislaboursforMrTrouthamthefarmer，andhedescendedintothemidstofit。

Thebrownsurfaceofthefieldwentrightuptowardstheskyallround，whereitwaslostbydegreesinthemistthatshutouttheactualvergeandaccentuatedthesolitude。Theonlymarksontheuniformityofthescenewerearickoflastyear’sproducestandinginthemidstofthearable，therooksthatroseathisapproach，andthepathathwartthefallowbywhichhehadcome，troddennowbyhehardlyknewwhom，thoughoncebymanyofhisowndeadfamily。

`Howuglyitishere！’hemurmured。

Thefreshharrow-linesseemedtostretchlikethechannellingsinapieceofnewcorduroy，lendingameanlyutilitarianairtotheexpanse，takingawayitsgradations，anddeprivingitofallhistorybeyondthatofthefewrecentmonths，thoughtoeveryclodandstonetherereallyattachedassociationsenoughandtospare-echoesofsongsfromancientharvest-days，ofspokenwords，andofsturdydeeds。Everyinchofgroundhadbeenthesite，firstorlast，ofenergy，gaiety，horse-play，bickerings，weariness。

Groupsofgleanershadsquattedinthesunoneverysquareyard。Love-matchesthathadpopulatedtheadjoininghamlethadbeenmadeuptherebetweenreapingandcarrying。Underthehedgewhichdividedthefieldfromadistantplantationgirlshadgiventhemselvestoloverswhowouldnotturntheirheadstolookatthembythenextharvest；andinthatancientcornfieldmanyamanhadmadelove-promisestoawomanatwhosevoicehehadtrembledbythenextseed-timeafterfulfillingtheminthechurchadjoining。ButthisneitherJudenortherooksaroundhimconsidered。Forthemitwasalonelyplace，possessing，intheoneview，onlythequalityofawork-ground，andintheotherthatofagranarygoodtofeedin。

Theboystoodundertherickbeforementioned，andeveryfewsecondsusedhisclackerorrattlebriskly。Ateachclacktherooksleftoffpecking，androseandwentawayontheirleisurelywings，burnishedliketassetsofmail，afterwardswheelingbackandregardinghimwarily，anddescendingtofeedatamorerespectfuldistance。

Hesoundedtheclackertillhisarmached，andatlengthhisheartgrewsympatheticwiththebirds’thwarteddesires。Theyseemed，likehimself，tobelivinginaworldwhichdidnotwantthem。Whyshouldhefrightenthemaway？Theytookuponmoreandmoretheaspectofgentlefriendsandpensioners-theonlyfriendshecouldclaimasbeingintheleastdegreeinterestedinhim，forhisaunthadoftentoldhimthatshewasnot。Heceasedhisrattling，andtheyalightedanew。

`Poorlittledears！’saidJude，aloud。`Youshallhavesomedinner-youshall。Thereisenoughforusall。FarmerTrouthamcanaffordtoletyouhavesome。Eat，thenmydearlittlebirdies，andmakeagoodmeal！’

Theystayedandate，inkyspotsonthenut-brownsoilandJudeenjoyedtheirappetite。Amagicthreadoffellow-feelingunitedhisownlifewiththeirs。Punyandsorryasthoseliveswere，theymuchresembledhisown。

Hisclackerhehadbythistimethrownawayfromhim，asbeingameanandsordidinstrument，offensivebothtothebirdsandtohimselfastheirfriend。Allatoncehebecameconsciousofasmartblowuponhisbuttocks，followedbyaloudclack，whichannouncedtohissurprisedsensesthattheclackerhadbeentheinstrumentofoffenceused。ThebirdsandJudestartedupsimultaneously，andthedazedeyesofthelatterbeheldthefarmerinperson，thegreatTrouthamhimself，hisredfaceglaringdownuponJude’scoweringframe，theclackerswinginginhishand。