This embodiment of a d'Urberville and a namesake differed even more

from what Tess had expected than the house and grounds had differed.

She had dreamed of an aged and dignified face, the sublimation of

all the d'Urberville lineaments, furrowed with incarnate memories

representing in hieroglyphic the centuries of her family's and

England's history. But she screwed herself up to the work in hand,

since she could not get out of it, and answered-

"I came to see your mother, sir."

"I am afraid you cannot see her--she is an invalid," replied the

present representative of the spurious house; for this was Mr Alec,

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the only son of the lately deceased gentleman.

"Cannot I answer your

purpose? What is the business you wish to see her about?"

"It isn't business--it is--I can hardly say what!"

"Pleasure?" "Oh no. Why, sir, if I tell you, it will seem--"

Tess's sense of a certain ludicrousness in her errand was now

so strong that, notwithstanding her awe of him, and her general

discomfort at being here, her rosy lips curved towards a smile,

much to the attraction of the swarthy Alexander.

"It is so very foolish," she stammered; "I fear can't tell you!"

"Never mind; I like foolish things. Try again, my dear," said he

kindly. "Mother asked me to come," Tess continued; "and, indeed, I was in the

mind to do so myself likewise. But I did not think it would be like

this. I came, sir, to tell you that we are of the same family as

you." "Ho! Poor relations?" "Yes." "Stokes?" "No; d'Urbervilles."

"Ay, ay; I mean d'Urbervilles."

"Our names are worn away to Durbeyfield; but we have several proofs

that we are d'Urbervilles. Antiquarians hold we are,--and--and we

have an old seal, marked with a ramping lion on a shield, and a

castle over him. And we have a very old silver spoon, round in the

bowl like a little ladle, and marked with the same castle. But it

is so worn that mother uses it to stir the pea-soup."

"A castle argent is certainly my crest," said he blandly. "And my

arms a lion rampant." "And so mother said we ought to make ourselves beknown to you--as

we've lost our horse by a bad accident, and are the oldest branch o'

the family." "Very kind of your mother, I'm sure. And I, for one, don't regret

her step." Alec looked at Tess as he spoke, in a way that made her

blush a little. "And so, my pretty girl, you've come on a friendly

visit to us, as relations?"




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