She is, as I understand, gone to join her lover.
What they are going to do I cannot say.
Whatever it may be she has my full consent to."
There was a stability, a ballast, in Phillotson's pronouncement which restrained his friend's comment.
"Shall I—leave you?" he asked.
"No, no.
It is a mercy to me that you have come.
I have some articles to arrange and clear away.
Would you help me?"
Gillingham assented; and having gone to the upper rooms the schoolmaster opened drawers, and began taking out all Sue's things that she had left behind, and laying them in a large box.
"She wouldn't take all I wanted her to," he continued.
"But when I made up my mind to her going to live in her own way I did make up my mind."
"Some men would have stopped at an agreement to separate."
"I've gone into all that, and don't wish to argue it.
I was, and am, the most old-fashioned man in the world on the question of marriage—in fact I had never thought critically about its ethics at all.
But certain facts stared me in the face, and I couldn't go against them."
They went on with the packing silently.
When it was done Phillotson closed the box and turned the key.
"There," he said.
"To adorn her in somebody's eyes; never again in mine!"
V
Four-and-twenty hours before this time Sue had written the following note to Jude:
It is as I told you; and I am leaving to-morrow evening.
Richard and I thought it could be done with less obtrusiveness after dark.
I feel rather frightened, and therefore ask you to be sure you are on the Melchester platform to meet me.
I arrive at a little to seven.
I know you will, of course, dear Jude; but I feel so timid that I can't help begging you to be punctual.
He has been so very kind to me through it all!
Now to our meeting!
S.
As she was carried by the omnibus farther and farther down from the mountain town—the single passenger that evening—she regarded the receding road with a sad face. But no hesitation was apparent therein.
The up-train by which she was departing stopped by signal only. To Sue it seemed strange that such a powerful organization as a railway train should be brought to a stand-still on purpose for her—a fugitive from her lawful home.
The twenty minutes' journey drew towards its close, and Sue began gathering her things together to alight.
At the moment that the train came to a stand-still by the Melchester platform a hand was laid on the door and she beheld Jude.
He entered the compartment promptly.
He had a black bag in his hand, and was dressed in the dark suit he wore on Sundays and in the evening after work.
Altogether he looked a very handsome young fellow, his ardent affection for her burning in his eyes.
"Oh Jude!" She clasped his hand with both hers, and her tense state caused her to simmer over in a little succession of dry sobs.
"I—I am so glad!
I get out here?"
"No. I get in, dear one! I've packed.
Besides this bag I've only a big box which is labelled."
"But don't I get out?
Aren't we going to stay here?"
"We couldn't possibly, don't you see.
We are known here—I, at any rate, am well known. I've booked for Aldbrickham; and here's your ticket for the same place, as you have only one to here."
"I thought we should have stayed here," she repeated.
"It wouldn't have done at all."
"Ah! Perhaps not."
"There wasn't time for me to write and say the place I had decided on.