苔斯- 第3部分

‘I　know　you，mother．But　I'll　go．’

Next　morning　Tess　walked　to　Shaston，a　town　she　hardly　knew，and　went　on　by　waggon　to　Trantridge．The　Vale　of　Blackmoor　was　her　only　world，　and　she　had　never　been　far　outside　the　valley．All　the　knowledge　she　had　came　from　her　lessons　in　the　village　school，which　she　had　left　a　year　or　two　earlier．As　soon　as　she　left　school　she　had　tried　to　earn　a　little　money　by　helping　in　the　fields　or　milking　cows　or　making　butter．She　blamed　her　mother　for　thoughtlessly　producing　so　many　children．Joan　Durbeyfield　was　like　a　child　herself，　and　never　thought　about　the　future．It　was　Tess　who　worried　and　worked　and　felt　responsible　for　her　little　brothers　and　sisters．So　naturally　it　was　Tess　who　should　represent　her　family　at　the　d’Urberville　home．

From　Trantridge　she　walked　up　a　hill，and　turning　a　corner，saw　the　house．She　stoppd　in　amazement．It　was　large　and　almost　new，　a　rich　red　against　the　green　of　the　bushes　around　it．Behind　it　lay　the　woods　called　The　Chase，　an　ancient　forest．There　were　greenhouses　and　well…kept　gardens．There　was　no　lack　of　money　here．　Tess　hesitated，　almost　frightened．

‘I　thought　we　were　an　old　family！’she　said　to　herself，‘but　this　is　all　new！’She　wished　she　had　not　come．

She　was　right　in　a　way．All　this　was　owned　by　the　d’Urbervilles，or　the　Stoke…d’Urbervilles　as　they　called　themselves　at　first．The　Stokes　were　a　northern　business　family　who　took　an　old…sounding　name　to　add　to　their　own　when　they　moved　into　the　south．So　Tess　was　more　of　a　d’Urberville　than　any　of　them，　but　did　not　know　it．

A　young　man　appeared　in　the　garden．　He　looked　about　twenty…four，　and　was　tall　and　dark，　with　full　red　lips　and　a　black　moustache　curled　at　the　ends．

‘Well，my　beauty，what　can　I　do　for　you？’he　said，　looking　interestedly　at　her．‘I'm　Mr　d’Urberville．’

It　needed　all　Tess's　courage　to　reply．‘I　came　to　see　your　mother，sir．’

‘I'm　afraid　you　can't　see　her．　She's　ill．What　do　you　want　to　see　her　about？’

‘I…I…it　seems　so　foolish！’

‘Never　mind，’said　he　kindly．‘I　like　foolish　things．Try　again，my　dear．’

‘I　came，sir，to　tell　you　we　are　of　the　same　family　as　you．’

‘Aha！Poor　relations？’

‘Yes．’

‘Stokes？’

‘No，d’Urbervilles．’

‘Oh　yes，of　course，I　mean　d’Urbervilles．’

‘We　have　several　proofs　that　we　are　d’Urbervilles．We　have　an　old　silver　spoon　and　a　seal　at　home．But　mother　uses　the　spoon　to　stir　the　soup．Mother　said　we　ought　to　tell　you，as　we　are　the　oldest　branch　of　the　family　and　we've　lost　our　horse　in　an　accident．’

‘Very　kind　of　your　mother，’said　Alec　d’Urberville，‘and　I　certainly　don't　regret　it．’He　looked　admiringly　at　Tess，whose　face　blushed　a　deep　pink．‘And　so　you've　come　on　a　friendly　visit？’

‘I　suppose　I　have，’murmured　Tess，　looking　uncomfortable．

‘Let　us　walk　round　the　gardens　until　you　have　to　go　home，my　pretty　cousin．’Tess　wanted　to　leave　as　soon　as　possible，but　the　young　man　insisted．He　took　her　to　the　greenhouses．

‘Do　you　like　strawberries？’he　asked．

‘Yes，’said　Tess，‘when　they　are　ready．’

‘These　are　ready　now，’and　so　saying，d’Urberville　picked　one　and　held　it　to　her　mouth．

‘No　no！’she　said．‘I'd　rather　take　it　myself．’

But　Alec　put　it　into　her　mouth．He　put　roses　into　her　hair　and　filled　her　basket　with　strawberries　and　flowers．　He　gave　her　food　to　eat，and　watched　her，while　he　quietly　smoked　a　cigarette．　She　looked　more　adult　and　womanly　than　she　really　was．Alec　could　not　take　his　eyes　off　her．She　did　not　know　as　she　smiled　innocently　at　the　flowers　that　behind　the　cigarette　smoke　was　the　cause　of　future　sorrow　in　her　life．

‘What　is　your　name？’asked　Alec．

‘Tess　Durbeyfield．We　live　at　Marlott．’

‘I　must　see　if　my　mother　can　find　a　place　for　you．’They　said　goodbye　and　she　set　off　home　carrying　her　strawberries　and　flowers．

This　then　was　the　beginning．　Why　did　she　have　to　meet　the　wrong　man，　and　one　who　was　so　strongly　attracted　to　her？Yet　to　the　right　man，　she　was　only　a　half…forgotten　impression　from　an　evening's　dancing　in　a　country　field．In　life，　the　right　man　to　love　hardly　ever　comes　at　the　right　time　for　loving．Nature　does　not　often　answer　a　call　for　love，　until　the　caller　is　tired　of　calling．In　this　case，as　in　millions，it　was　not　the　two　halves　of　a　perfect　whole　who　met．A　missing　half　wandered　somewhere　else，arriving　much　later．This　delay　was　to　have　tragic　results．

　　



　


4

　　

When　Tess　arrived　home　the　following　afternoon　a　letter　had　already　been　received　by　her　mother．It　appeared　to　come　from　Mrs　d’Urberville，and　offered　Tess　work　looking　after　chickens．　Joan　Durbeyfield　was　delighted．

‘It's　just　a　way　of　getting　you　there　without　raising　your　hopes．She's　going　to　recognize　you　as　family，I'm　sure　of　it．’

‘I　would　rather　stay　here　with　father　and　you，’said　Tess，looking　out　of　the　window．

‘But　why？’

‘I'd　rather　not　tell　you，　mother．I　don't　really　know．’

A　few　days　later　when　Tess　came　back　from　looking　for　work，　the　children　came　running　out　and　danced　round　her．

‘The　gentleman's　been　here！’they　shouted．

Joan　was　full　of　smiles．　Mrs　d’Urberville's　son　had　called，and　asked　if　Tess　could　come　or　not．

‘He's　a　very　handsome　man！’said　Mrs　Durbeyfield．

‘I　don't　think　so，’said　Tess　coldly．‘I'll　think　it　over．’She　left　the　room．

‘He's　in　love　with　her，　you　can　see　that，’said　Mrs　Durbeyfield　to　her　husband．‘No　doubt　he'll　marry　her　and　she'll　be　a　fine　lady．’

John　Durbeyfield　had　more　pride　in　his　new…found　blood　than　energy　or　health．‘That's　what　young　Mr　d’Urberville　is　trying　to　do！Improve　his　blood　by　marrying　into　the　old　line！’

Persuaded　by　her　mother　and　the　children，Tess　finally　agreed　to　go．Mrs　Durbeyfield　secretly　made　wedding　plans．Then　the　day　came　when　Tess，　wearing　her　best　Sunday　clothes　on　her　mother's　orders，said　goodbye　to　her　family．

‘Goodbye，my　girl，’said　Sir　John，waking　from　a　short　sleep．‘Tell　young　d’Urberville　I'll　sell　him　the　title，yes，sell　it，at　a　reasonable　price．’

‘Not　for　less　than　a　thousand　pounds！’cried　Lady　Durbeyfield．

‘No，tell　him　he　can　have　it　for　a　hundred！No，fifty，　no—twenty！Yes，twenty　pounds，that's　the　lowest．Family　honour　is　family　honour　and　I　won't　take　any　less！’

Tess　felt　like　crying　but　turned　quickly　and　went　out．Her　mother　went　with　her　to　the　edge　of　the　village．There　she　stopped　and　stood　waving　goodbye，and　watched　her　daughter　walking　away　into　the　distance．　A　waggon　came　to　take　her　bags，and　then　a　fashionable　little　carriage　appeared．It　was　driven　by　a　well…dressed　young　man　smoking　a　cigar．After　a　moment's　hesitation，Tess　stepped　in．

Joan　Durbeyfield，watching，wondered　for　the　first　time　if　she　had　been　right　in　encouraging　Tess　to　go．　That　night　she　said　to　her　husband，‘Perhaps　I　should　have　found　out　how　the　gentleman　really　feels　about　her．’

‘Yes，perhaps　you　ought，’murmured　John，half　asleep．Joan's　natural　trust　in　the　future　came　back　to　her．

‘Well，if　he　doesn't　marry　her　before，he'll　mar