Nevertheless, she returned to the beer and drank her share. And then they went on their way. It was nearly dark. As soon as they had withdrawn from the light of the town, they walked closer together, till they touched each other. She wonderd why he did not put his arm round her waist. But he did not. He mearly said what to himself seemd bold enough thing:" Take my arm".
She took it, thouroughly, up to the shoulder. He felt the warmth of her body against his, and putting his stick under the other arm held with his arm her right as it has rested in its place. "Now we're well together dear, aren't we?" he observed.
"Yes,",said she, "Rather mild".
They walked till they reached the foot of the upland. They could see the white highway acending before them in the gloom. From this point, the only way to Arabale's is by going up the incline and dipping into her valley on her right. Before they climbed far they were nearly run into by two men who had been walking on the grass unseen.
"These lovers--You find them out of doors in all seans and weathers--lovers and homeless dogs only". said one of the men as they vanished down the hill.
Arabella tittered lightly.
"Are we lovers?" asked Jude.
"You know best."
"But you can tell me?"
For answer she inclined her head upon his shoulder. Jude took the hint, and encicling her waist with his arm he pulled her to him and kissed her.
They walked now not arm in arm but, as she desired, clapsed together. After all, what did it matter since it was dark, said Jude to himself. When they were half-way up to the long hill they paused as arrangement, and he kissed her again. When they reached the top of the hill he kissed her once more.
"You can put your arm there, if you would like to." she said gently.
He did so, thinking how trusting she was.
She took it, thouroughly, up to the shoulder. He felt the warmth of her body against his, and putting his stick under the other arm held with his arm her right as it has rested in its place. "Now we're well together dear, aren't we?" he observed.
"Yes,",said she, "Rather mild".
They walked till they reached the foot of the upland. They could see the white highway acending before them in the gloom. From this point, the only way to Arabale's is by going up the incline and dipping into her valley on her right. Before they climbed far they were nearly run into by two men who had been walking on the grass unseen.
"These lovers--You find them out of doors in all seans and weathers--lovers and homeless dogs only". said one of the men as they vanished down the hill.
Arabella tittered lightly.
"Are we lovers?" asked Jude.
"You know best."
"But you can tell me?"
For answer she inclined her head upon his shoulder. Jude took the hint, and encicling her waist with his arm he pulled her to him and kissed her.
They walked now not arm in arm but, as she desired, clapsed together. After all, what did it matter since it was dark, said Jude to himself. When they were half-way up to the long hill they paused as arrangement, and he kissed her again. When they reached the top of the hill he kissed her once more.
"You can put your arm there, if you would like to." she said gently.
He did so, thinking how trusting she was.
