Jude the Obsure - Page 17/318

"And the Latin and Greek grammars?" Jude's voice trembled with

anxiety.

"What about them?"

"You were to bring me yours, that you used before you took your

degree."

"Ah, yes, yes! Forgot all about it--all! So many lives depending on

my attention, you see, my man, that I can't give so much thought as I

would like to other things."

Jude controlled himself sufficiently long to make sure of the truth;

and he repeated, in a voice of dry misery, "You haven't brought 'em!"

"No. But you must get me some more orders from sick people, and I'll

bring the grammars next time."

Jude dropped behind. He was an unsophisticated boy, but the gift of

sudden insight which is sometimes vouchsafed to children showed him

all at once what shoddy humanity the quack was made of. There was to

be no intellectual light from this source. The leaves dropped from

his imaginary crown of laurel; he turned to a gate, leant against it,

and cried bitterly.

The disappointment was followed by an interval of blankness. He

might, perhaps, have obtained grammars from Alfredston, but to do

that required money, and a knowledge of what books to order; and

though physically comfortable, he was in such absolute dependence as

to be without a farthing of his own.

At this date Mr. Phillotson sent for his pianoforte, and it gave Jude

a lead. Why should he not write to the schoolmaster, and ask him to

be so kind as to get him the grammars in Christminster? He might

slip a letter inside the case of the instrument, and it would be

sure to reach the desired eyes. Why not ask him to send any old

second-hand copies, which would have the charm of being mellowed by

the university atmosphere?

To tell his aunt of his intention would be to defeat it. It was

necessary to act alone.

After a further consideration of a few days he did act, and on the

day of the piano's departure, which happened to be his next birthday,

clandestinely placed the letter inside the packing-case, directed to

his much-admired friend, being afraid to reveal the operation to his

aunt Drusilla, lest she should discover his motive, and compel him to

abandon his scheme.

The piano was despatched, and Jude waited days and weeks, calling

every morning at the cottage post office before his great-aunt was

stirring. At last a packet did indeed arrive at the village, and he

saw from the ends of it that it contained two thin books. He took it

away into a lonely place, and sat down on a felled elm to open it.