"Ah, well may you ask it! It was my fate, I suppose. Tib has killed

one chap; and just after I bought her she nearly killed me. And

then, take my word for it, I nearly killed her. But she's touchy

still, very touchy; and one's life is hardly safe behind her

sometimes." They were just beginning to descend; and it was evident that the

horse, whether of her own will or of his (the latter being the more

likely), knew so well the reckless performance expected of her that

she hardly required a hint from behind.

Down, down, they sped, the wheels humming like a top, the dog-cart

rocking right and left, its axis acquiring a slightly oblique set

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in relation to the line of progress; the figure of the horse rising

and falling in undulations before them. Sometimes a wheel was off

the ground, it seemed, for many yards; sometimes a stone was sent

spinning over the hedge, and flinty sparks from the horse's hoofs

outshone the daylight. The aspect of the straight road enlarged with

their advance, the two banks dividing like a splitting stick; one

rushing past at each shoulder.

The wind blew through Tess's white muslin to her very skin, and her

washed hair flew out behind. She was determined to show no open

fear, but she clutched d'Urberville's rein-arm.

"Don't touch my arm! We shall be thrown out if you do! Hold on

round my waist!" She grasped his waist, and so they reached the bottom.

"Safe, thank God, in spite of your fooling!" said she, her face on

fire. "Tess--fie! that's temper!" said d'Urberville. "'Tis truth."

"Well, you need not let go your hold of me so thanklessly the moment

you feel yourself our of danger."

She had not considered what she had been doing; whether he were man

or woman, stick or stone, in her involuntary hold on him. Recovering

her reserve, she sat without replying, and thus they reached the

summit of another declivity. "Now then, again!" said d'Urberville.

"No, no!" said Tess. "Show more sense, do, please."

"But when people find themselves on one of the highest points in the

county, they must get down again," he retorted.

He loosened rein, and away they went a second time. D'Urberville

turned his face to her as they rocked, and said, in playful raillery:

"Now then, put your arms round my waist again, as you did before, my

Beauty." "Never!" said Tess independently, holding on as well as she could

without touching him. "Let me put one little kiss on those holmberry lips, Tess, or even on

that warmed cheek, and I'll stop--on my honour, I will!"




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