JUDE THE OBSCURE

Thomas Hardy

Jan 1968 · YouHui Culture Publishing Company

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Part First

At Marygreen

`Yea, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and

become servants for their sakes. Many also have perished, have erred,

and sinned, for women.... O ye men, how can it be but women should be

strong, seeing they do thus?' - Esdras.

I-i

The schoolmaster was leaving the village, and everybody seemed sorry. The miller at

Cresscombe lent him the small white tilted cart and horse to carry his goods to the city

of his destination, about twenty miles off, such a vehicle proving of quite sufficient

size for the departing teacher's effects. For the schoolhouse had been partly furnished

by the managers, and the only cumbersome article possessed by the master, in

addition to the packing-case of books, was a cottage piano that he had bought at an

auction during the year in which he thought of learning instrumental music. But the

enthusiasm having waned he had never acquired any skill in playing, and the

purchased article had been a perpetual trouble to him ever since in moving house.

The rector had gone away for the day, being a man who disliked the sight of changes.

He did not mean to return till the evening, when the new school-teacher would have

arrived and settled in, and everything would be smooth again.

The blacksmith, the farm bailiff, and the schoolmaster himself were standing in

perplexed attitudes in the parlour before the instrument. The master had remarked that

even if he got it into the cart he should not know what to do with it on his arrival at

Christminster, the city he was bound for, since he was only going into temporary

lodgings just at first.

A little boy of eleven, who had been thoughtfully assisting in the packing, joined the

group of men, and as they rubbed their chins he spoke up, blushing at the sound of his

own voice: `Aunt have got a great fuel-house, and it could be put there, perhaps, till

you've found a place to settle in, sir.'

`A proper good notion,' said the blacksmith.

It was decided that a deputation should wait on the boy's aunt - an old maiden

resident - and ask her if she would house the piano till Mr. Phillotson should send for

it. The smith and the bailiff started to see about the practicability of the suggested

shelter, and the boy and the schoolmaster were left standing alone.

`Sorry I am going, Jude?' asked the latter kindly.

Tears rose into the boy's eyes, for he was not among the regular day scholars, who

came unromantically close to the schoolmaster's life, but one who had attended the

night school only during the present teacher's term of office. The regular scholars, if

the truth must be told, stood at the present moment afar off, like certain historic

disciples, indisposed to any enthusiastic volunteering of aid.

The boy awkwardly opened the book he held in his hand, which Mr. Phillotson had

bestowed on him as a parting gift, and admitted that he was sorry.

`So am I,' said Mr. Phillotson.

`Why do you go, sir?' asked the boy.

`Ah - that would be a long story. You wouldn't understand my reasons, Jude. You

will, perhaps, when you are older.'

`I think I should now, sir.'

`Well - don't speak of this everywhere. You know what a university is, and a

university degree? It is the necessary hallmark of a man who wants to do anything in

teaching. My scheme, or dream, is to be a university graduate, and then to be

ordained. By going to live at Christminster, or near it, I shall be at headquarters, so to

speak, and if my scheme is practicable at all, I consider that being on the spot will

afford me a better chance of carrying it out than I should have elsewhere.'

The smith and his companion returned. Old Miss Fawley's fuel-house was dry, and

eminently practicable; and she seemed willing to give the instrument standing-room

there. It was accordingly left in the school till the evening, when more hands would be

available for removing it; and the schoolmaster gave a final glance round.

The boy Jude assisted in loading some small articles, and at nine o'clock Mr. Phillotson mounted beside his box of books and other impedimenta, and bade his friends good-bye.