Clare was not particularly heeding. "Did Crick speak to you to-day, dear, about his not wanting much
assistance during the winter months?" "No."
"The cows are going dry rapidly."
"Yes. Six or seven went to the straw-barton yesterday, and three the
day before, making nearly twenty in the straw already. Ah--is it
that the farmer don't want my help for the calving? O, I am not
wanted here any more! And I have tried so hard to--"
"Crick didn't exactly say that he would no longer require you. But,
knowing what our relations were, he said in the most good-natured
and respectful manner possible that he supposed on my leaving at
Christmas I should take you with me, and on my asking what he would
do without you he merely observed that, as a matter of fact, it was a
time of year when he could do with a very little female help. I am
afraid I was sinner enough to feel rather glad that he was in this
way forcing your hand."
"I don't think you ought to have felt glad, Angel. Because 'tis
always mournful not to be wanted, even if at the same time 'tis
convenient."
"Well, it is convenient--you have admitted that." He put his finger
upon her cheek. "Ah!" he said. "What?"
"I feel the red rising up at her having been caught! But why should
I trifle so! We will not trifle--life is too serious."
"It is. Perhaps I saw that before you did." She was seeing it then.
To decline to marry him after all--in
obedience to her emotion of last night--and leave the dairy, meant
to go to some strange place, not a dairy; for milkmaids were not in
request now calving-time was coming on; to go to some arable farm
where no divine being like Angel Clare was. She hated the thought,
and she hated more the thought of going home. "
So that, seriously, dearest Tess," he continued, "since you will
probably have to leave at Christmas, it is in every way desirable and
convenient that I should carry you off then as my property. Besides,
if you were not the most uncalculating girl in the world you would
know that we could not go on like this for ever."
"I wish we could. That it would always be summer and autumn, and you
always courting me, and always thinking as much of me as you have
done through the past summer-time!"