第53章

`Fie - it is Scripture, Izz!'

`Yes,' said Izz, `I've always a' ear at church for pretty verses.' Angel Clare, to whom three-quarters of this performance was a commonplace act of kindness, now approached Izz.She quietly and dreamily lowered herself into his arms, and Angel methodically marched off with her.When he was heard returning for the third time Retty's throbbing heart could be almost seen to shake her.He went up to the red-haired girl, and while he was seizing her he glanced at Tess.His lips could not have pronounced more plainly, `It will soon be you and J.' Her comprehension appeared in her face; she could not help it.There was an understanding between them.

Poor little Retty, though by far the lightest weight, was the most troublesome of Clare's burdens.Marian had been like a sack of meal, a dead weight of plumpness under which he had literally staggered.Izz had ridden sensibly and calmly.Retty was a bunch of hysterics.

However, he got through with the disquieted creature, deposited her, and returned.Tess could see over the hedge the distant three in a group, standing as he had placed them on the next rising ground.It was now her turn.She was embarrassed to discover that excitement at the proximity of Mr Clare's breath and eyes, which she had contemned in her companions, was intensified in herself; and as if fearful of betraying her secret she pattered with him at the last moment.

`I may be able to clim' along the bank perhaps - I can clim' better than they.You must be so tired, Mr Clare!'

`No, no, Tess,' said he quickly.And almost before she was aware she was seated in his arms and resting against his shoulder.

`Three Leahs to get one Rachel,' he whispered.

`They are better women than I,' she replied, magnanimously sticking to her resolve.

`Not to me,' said Angel.

He saw her grow warm at this; and they went some steps in silence.

`I hope I am not too heavy?' she said timidly.`O no.You should lift Marian! Such a lump.You are like an undulating billow warmed by the sun.

And all this fluff of muslin about you is the froth.'

`It is very pretty - if I seem like that to you.'

`Do you know that I have undergone three-quarters of this labour entirely for the sake of the fourth quarter?'

`No.'

`I did not expect such an event to-day.'

`Nor I...The water came up so sudden.'

That the rise in the water was what she understood him to refer to, the state of her breathing belied.Clare stood still and inclined his face towards hers.

`O Tessy!' he exclaimed.

The girl's cheeks burned to the breeze, and she could not look into his eyes for her emotion.It reminded Angel that he was somewhat unfairly taking advantage of an accidental position; and he went no further with it.No definite words of love had crossed their lips as yet, and suspension at this point was desirable now.However, he walked slowly, to make the remainder of the distance as long as possible; but at last they came to the bend, and the rest of their progress was in full view of the other three.The dry land was reached, and he set her down.

Her friends were looking with round thoughtful eyes at her and him, and she could see that they had been talking of her.He hastily bade them farewell, and splashed back along the stretch of submerged road.

The four moved on together as before, till Marian broke the silence by saying--`No - in all truth; we have no chance against her!' She looked joylessly at Tess.

`What do you mean?' asked the latter.

`He likes 'ee best - the very best! We could see it as he brought 'ee.

He would have kissed 'ee, if you had encouraged him to do it, ever so little.'

`No, no,' said she.

The gaiety with which they had set out had somehow vanished; and yet there was no enmity or malice between them.They were generous young souls;they had been reared in the lonely country nooks where fatalism is a strong sentiment, and they did not blame her.Such supplanting was to be.

Tess's heart ached.There was no concealing from herself the fact that she loved Angel Clare, perhaps all the more passionately from knowing that the others had also lost their hearts to him.There is contagion in this sentiment, especially among women.And yet that same hungry heart of hers compassionated her friends.Tess's honest nature had fought against this, but too feebly, and the natural result had followed.

`I will never stand in your way, nor in the way of either of you!' she declared to Retty that night in the bedroom (her tears running down).`Ican't help this, my dear! I don't think marrying is in his mind at all;but if he were even to ask me I should refuse him, as I should refuse any man.'

`Oh! would you? Why?' said wondering Retty.

`It cannot be! But I will be plain.Putting myself quite on one side, I don't think he will choose either of you.'

`I have never expected it - thought of it!'moaned Retty.`But O! I wish I was dead!'

The poor child, torn by a feeling which she hardly understood, turned to the other two girls who came upstairs just then.

`We be friends with her again,' she said to them.`She thinks no more of his choosing her than we do.'

So the reserve went off, and they were confiding and warm.

`I don't seem to care what I do now,' said Marian, whose mood was tuned to its lowest bass.`I was going to marry a dairyman at Stickleford, who's asked me twice; but - my soul - I would put an end to myself rather'n be his wife now! Why don't ye speak, Izz?'

`To confess, then,' murmured Izz, `I made sure to-day that he was going to kiss me as he held me; and I lay still against his breast, hoping and hoping, and never moved at all.But he did not.I don't like biding here at Talbotbays any longer! I shall go hwome.'