Tess of the D'Urbervilles

me of the younger women in and about Trantridge was marked, and was perhaps symptomatic of the choice

eaning on their ploughs or hoes, would enter into calculations of great nicety to prove that parish relief was a fuller

market town two or three miles distant; and, returning in the small hours of the next morning, to spend Sunday in sleepin

afforded her more enjoyment than she had expected, the hilariousness of the others being quite contagious after her monotonous attention to the poultry-farm all the week. She went again and again. Being graceful and interesting, standing moreover on the momentary threshold of woma

's occupations made her late in setting out, so that her comrades reached the town long before her. It was a fine September evening, just before sunset, when yellow lights struggle with blue shades in hair-

the place, by which time it was close upon dusk. Her limited marketing was soon comp

g at the house of a hay-trusser and peat-dealer who had transactions with their farm. He lived in an out-of-the-way nook

ty? You here so

was simply waiting f

he over her shoulder as she

of things for these parts, where as a rule the stamping drowned the music. The front door being open she could see straight through the house into the garden at the back as

which at first Tess thought to be illuminated smoke. But on drawing nearer she perceived that it was a cloud of dust, lit by can

ated the nebulosity that involved the scene. Through this floating, fusty débris of peat and hay, mixed with the perspirations and warmth of the dancers, and forming together a sort of vegeto-human pollen, the muted fiddles feebly pushed their notes, in marked contrast to the spirit with which the measure was trodden

features, the demigods resolved themselves into the homely personalities of her own next door

enches and hay-trusses by the wall

y don't like to let everybody see which be their fancy-men. Besides, the house sometimes sh

u going home?' asked T

ctly. This is all

t Tess. But it merged in yet another. She became restless and uneasy; yet, having waited so long, it was necessary to wait longer; on account of the fair the roads were dotted

's yer hurry? Tomorrow is Sunday, thank God, and we can sleep it off in church time. Now, have a turn with me?' She did not abhor dancing, but she was not going to dance here. The movement grew more passionat

yet been arrived at by one or other of the pair, and by this time every couple had been suitably matched. It was then that the ecstasy and the dream bega

unable to check its progress, came toppling over the obstacle. An inner cloud of dust rose around the prostrat

caused the mishap; she happened also to be his recently married wife, in which assortment there was nothing unusual at Trantridge as long as any affection remained between

within the room. She looked round, and saw the red coal of a cigar: Alec d'Urberville w

ty, what are y

ad been waiting ever since he saw her to have their company home, because the road at night was st

re to-day; but come to "The Flower-de-Luce", and

diness, she preferred to walk home with the work folk. So she answered that she was much obliged to h

elf... Then I shall not hurry... My good Lo

had re-lit a cigar and walked away the Trantridge people began to collect themselves from amid those who had come in from other farms, and prepared to leave in a body. Their bundles

--------------------------

a dry white road, made whiter to

pades, till lately a favourite of d'Urberville's; Nancy, her sister, nicknamed the Queen of Diamonds; and the young married woman who had already tumbled down. Yet however terrestrial and lumpy their appearance just now to the mean unglamoured eye, to themselves the case was different. They followed the road with a sensation t

ouse, that the discovery of their condition spoilt the pleasure she was beginning to

ut now their route was through a field-gate, and the foremost

her own draperies, and other purchases for the week. The basket being large and heavy, Car had placed it for conve

ping down the back, Car Darch?'

m the back of her head a kind of rope could be seen descendin

falling down,

mething oozing from her basket, mid it glistened lik

' said an obse

her own hives, but treacle was what her soul desired, and Car had been about to give her a treat of surprise.

by the first sudden means available, and independently of the help of the scoffers. She rushed excitedly into the field they were about to cross, and flinging herse

n the weakness engendered by their convulsions at the spectacle of Car. Our heroine, who

her note of Tess among those of the other work people than a long smouldering sense of rivalry

laugh at me, hus

when toothers did,' apologi

t first favourite with He just now! But stop a bit, my lady, st

he was only too glad to be free of - till she had bared her plump neck, shoulders, and arms to the moonshine, under which they looke

fists and squar

y; `and if I had known you was of that sort, I wouldn't have s

lle that Car had also been suspected of, united with the latter against the common enemy. Several other women also chimed in, with an animus which none of them would have been so fatuous as to show but for the

soon as possible. She knew well enough that the better among them would repent of their passion next day. They were all now inside the field, and she was edging

ll this row about, w

ot require any. Having heard their voices while yet some way off he

bent over towards her. `Jump up behind me' he whispered

not of itself have forced her to do otherwise. But coming as the invitation did at the particular juncture when fear and indignation at these adversaries could be transformed by a spring of the foot into a triumph over them, she abandoned h

iamonds and the new-married, staggering young woman - all with a gaze of fixity in

asked a man who had not

' laughed

ng bride, as she steadied herself

roking her moustache as she explained laconi

ormed by the moon's rays upon the glistening sheet of dew. Each pedestrian could see no halo but his or her own, which never deserted the head-shadow, whatever its vulgar unsteadiness might be; but adhered to it, and persistently beautified it; till