JUDE THE OBSCURE
Thomas Hardy
Jan 1968 · YouHui Culture Publishing Company
Ebook
367
Pages
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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.
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