"Because it was cruel to bring me here!"
"Why?"
"You were lately here with Arabella. There, now I have said it!"
"Dear me, why—" said Jude looking round him.
"Yes—it is the same!
I really didn't know it, Sue.
Well—it is not cruel, since we have come as we have—two relations staying together."
"How long ago was it you were here?
Tell me, tell me!"
"The day before I met you in Christminster, when we went back to Marygreen together.
I told you I had met her."
"Yes, you said you had met her, but you didn't tell me all.
Your story was that you had met as estranged people, who were not husband and wife at all in Heaven's sight—not that you had made it up with her."
"We didn't make it up," he said sadly.
"I can't explain, Sue."
"You've been false to me; you, my last hope!
And I shall never forget it, never!"
"But by your own wish, dear Sue, we are only to be friends, not lovers!
It is so very inconsistent of you to—"
"Friends can be jealous!"
"I don't see that.
You concede nothing to me and I have to concede everything to you.
After all, you were on good terms with your husband at that time."
"No, I wasn't, Jude.
Oh how can you think so!
And you have taken me in, even if you didn't intend to."
She was so mortified that he was obliged to take her into her room and close the door lest the people should hear.
"Was it this room?
Yes it was—I see by your look it was!
I won't have it for mine!
Oh it was treacherous of you to have her again!
I jumped out of the window!"
"But Sue, she was, after all, my legal wife, if not—"
Slipping down on her knees Sue buried her face in the bed and wept.
"I never knew such an unreasonable—such a dog-in-the-manger feeling," said Jude.
"I am not to approach you, nor anybody else!"
"Oh don't you understand my feeling!
Why don't you!
Why are you so gross!
I jumped out of the window!"
"Jumped out of window?"
"I can't explain!"
It was true that he did not understand her feelings very well.
But he did a little; and began to love her none the less.
"I—I thought you cared for nobody—desired nobody in the world but me at that time—and ever since!" continued Sue.
"It is true.
I did not, and don't now!" said Jude, as distressed as she.
"But you must have thought much of her!
Or—"
"No—I need not—you don't understand me either—women never do!