“Whenever I met him out for a walk, he used to say that he was much taken with my looks, and he kept pressing me to marry him. I never thought of coming back to England again; and being out there in Australia, with no home of my own after leaving my father, I at last agreed, and did.”
“What—marry him?”
“Yes.”
“Regularly—legally—in church?”
“Yes. And lived with him till shortly before I left. It was stupid, I know; but I did! There, now I’ve told you. Don’t round upon me! He talks of coming back to England, poor old chap. But if he does, he won’t be likely to find me.”
Jude stood pale and fixed.
“Why the devil didn’t you tell me last, night!” he said.
“Well—I didn’t… Won’t you make it up with me, then?”
“So in talking of ‘your husband’ to the bar gentlemen you meant him, of course—not me!”
“Of course… Come, don’t fuss about it.”