Jude the Obsure - Page 1/318

"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

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.