Tess of the D'Urbervilles

him were rickety, and there was a bias in his gait which inclined him somewhat to the left of a straight line. He occasionally gave a smart nod, as if in confirmation of some opinion, though he wa

a gray mare, who, as he rode, hummed a wandering tu

Sir John,' sa

nother pace or two, hal

on this road about this time, and I zaid "Good-night"

said th

re that - near

ay h

me "Sir John" these different times, when

ode a step o

ty history. I am Parson Tringham, the antiquary, of Stagfoot Lane. Don't you really know, Durbeyfield, that you are the lineal representative of the ancient and knightly family of

rd it befo

part of England; their names appear in the Pipe Rolls in the time of King Stephen. In the reign of King John one of them was rich enough to give a manor to the Knights Hospitallers; and in Edward the Second's time your forefather Brian was summoned to Westminster to attend the great Council there. You declined a little in Oliver Cromwell's

n't sa

ly smacking his leg with his switch, `ther

ut, year after year, from pillar to post, as if I was no more than the commonest fell

igations had begun on a day in the preceding spring when, having been engaged in tracing the vicissitudes of the d'Urberville family, he had observed

mation,' said he. `However, our impulses are too strong for our judgment s

keep only one. I've got a wold silver spoon, and a wold graven seal at home, too; but, Lord, what's a spoon and seal?... And to think that I and these noble d'Urbervilles were one flesh all the time. 'T

ere. You are extinct

t's

onicles call extinct in the male line

ere do w

ows of you in your vaults, with your ef

r family mansion

aven't

lands ne

merous branches. In this county there was a seat of yours at Kingsbere, and another at

ver come into o

at I can

about it, sir?' asked Du

n". It is a fact of some interest to the local historian and genealogist, nothing more. There

ngth o't, Pa'son Tringham? There's a very pretty brew in tap at T

h already.' Concluding thus the parson rode on his way, with dou

depositing his basket before him. In a few minutes a youth appeared in the distance, walking in the same direction as that wh

sket! I want'ee to go

, John Durbeyfield, to order me about and call me

don't mind telling you that the secret is that I'm one of a noble race - it has been just found out by me this present afternoon P.M.' And as

field, and contemplated his

hat is if knights were baronets - which they be. 'Tis recorded in history

n there to Gre

church of that

wise 'twaddn' when I was there--'twas a

my ancestors - hundreds of 'em - in coats of mail and Jewels, in gr't lead coffins weighing tons and tons. Th

h?

me hwome. And in the bottom o' the carriage they be to put a noggin o' rum in a small bottle, and chalk it up to my account. And when you've done that goo on

d put his hand in his pocket, and produced a shill

r your lab

in the young man's es

ee. Anything else I can

lamb's fry if they can get it; and if they can't, black-po

Sir

et out the notes of a brass band were h

d Durbeyfield. `No

ing, Sir John. Why, your da

things! Well, vamp on to Marlott, will ye, and order that

evening sun. Not a soul passed that way for a long while, and the faint note