"That is devilish unkind!" he said. "I mean no harm--only to keep

you from falling." She pondered suspiciously, till, thinking that this might after all

be true, she relented, and said quite humbly, "I beg your pardon,

sir." "I won't pardon you unless you show some confidence in me. Good

God!" he burst out, "what am I, to be repulsed so by a mere chit like

you? For near three mortal months have you trifled with my feelings,

eluded me, and snubbed me; and I won't stand it!"

"I'll leave you to-morrow, sir."

"No, you will not leave me to-morrow! Will you, I ask once more,

show your belief in me by letting me clasp you with my arm? Come,

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between us two and nobody else, now. We know each other well; and

you know that I love you, and think you the prettiest girl in the

world, which you are. Mayn't I treat you as a lover?"

She drew a quick pettish breath of objection, writhing uneasily on

her seat, looked far ahead, and murmured, "I don't know--I wish--how

can I say yes or no when--"

He settled the matter by clasping his arm round her as he desired,

and Tess expressed no further negative. Thus they sidled

slowly onward till it struck her they had been advancing for an

unconscionable time--far longer than was usually occupied by the

short journey from Chaseborough, even at this walking pace, and

that they were no longer on hard road, but in a mere trackway.

"Why, where be we?" she exclaimed. "Passing by a wood."

"A wood--what wood? Surely we are quite out of the road?"

"A bit of The Chase--the oldest wood in England. It is a lovely

night, and why should we not prolong our ride a little?"

"How could you be so treacherous!" said Tess, between archness and

real dismay, and getting rid of his arm by pulling open his fingers

one by one, though at the risk of slipping off herself. "Just when

I've been putting such trust in you, and obliging you to please you,

because I thought I had wronged you by that push! Please set me

down, and let me walk home."

"You cannot walk home, darling, even if the air were clear. We are

miles away from Trantridge, if I must tell you, and in this growing

fog you might wander for hours among these trees."

"Never mind that," she coaxed. "Put me down, I beg you. I don't

mind where it is; only let me get down, sir, please!"




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