rd who sings with a clear voiced conviction that he at least knows the correct time of day, the rest preserving silence as if equally convinced that he is mista

ver set out to see your folks without

ing to work!

first there mid be a little pretence o't... But I think it w

u know best,' replied Te

Tess's hair with such thoroughness that when dried and brushed it looked twice as much as at other times. She tied it with a broader pink ribbon than usual. Then she put upon her the white frock that Tess had worn at the clubw

holes in your stockin

speak! When I was a maid, so long as I had a pret

led her to step back, like a painter from

e cried. `It is much better

beyfield hung a black cloak outside the casement, and so made a large reflector of the panes, as it is the wont

much to Tess of his fancy for her, and this chance she has got. She is such an odd maid that it mid zet her against him, or against going the

rompted the matron to say that she would walk a little way - as far as to the point where the acclivity from the valley began its first steep ascent to the outer world. At the top Te

er bonnet the younger childr

Sissy, now she's going to marry our g

y, `I'll hear no more o' that! Mother, how co

ation, and help get enough money for a new

,' said Tess, wit

orning in honour of the occasion. `Well, I hope my young friend will like such a comely sample of his own blood. And tell'n, Te

thousand pound!' cr

n feller like myself can. Tell'n he shall hae it for a hundred. But I won't stand upon trifles - tell'n he shall hae it for fift

o choked to utter the sentiments that were

lanked by innocence, and backed by simple souled vanity. They followed the way till they reached the beginning of the ascent, on the crest of which the vehicle from Trantridge was to receive her, this limit having been fixed to save the horse the labour of the last slope. Far away

l soon come, no doubt,' said Mrs D

stopping beside the boy with the barrow. Her mother and the children thereupon decide

e had quite reached it another vehicle shot out from a clump of trees on the summit, came round the bend

uipped. The driver was a young man of three or four-and-twenty, with a cigar between his teeth; wearing a dandy cap, drab Jacket, breeches of the same hue, white 'neckclo

. Then she looked down, then stared again. Cou

an who'll make Sissy a lady

red the humble cart. The young man dismounted, and appeared to urge her to ascend. She turned her face down the hill to her relatives, and regarded the little group. Something seemed to quicken her to a determination; possibly t

youngest child said, `I wish poor, poor Tess wasn't gone away to be a lady!' and, lowering the corners of his lips, burst out crying

ime she had got back to the village she was passively trusting to the favour of acciden

`I was thinking that perhaps it would

have thought o

n, I wouldn't let her go till I had found out whether the gentleman is

haps, to ha' done th

stock, she ought to make her way with 'en, if she plays her trump card aright. And if he don

ard? Her d'Urbervil

her face - as