"
"'Tis five or six miles yet to Trantridge."
"I don't care if 'tis dozens. Besides, the cart is behind."
"You artful hussy! Now, tell me--didn't you make that hat blow off
on purpose? I'll swear you did!"
Her strategic silence confirmed his suspicion.
Then d'Urberville cursed and swore at her, and called her everything
he could think of for the trick. Turning the horse suddenly he tried
to drive back upon her, and so hem her in between the gig and the
hedge. But he could not do this short of injuring her.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself for using such wicked words!"
cried Tess with spirit, from the top of the hedge into which she had
scrambled. "I don't like 'ee at all! I hate and detest you! I'll
go back to mother, I will!"
D'Urberville's bad temper cleared up at sight of hers; and he laughed
heartily.
"Well, I like you all the better," he said. "Come, let there be
peace. I'll never do it any more against your will. My life upon
it now!"
Still Tess could not be induced to remount. She did not, however,
object to his keeping his gig alongside her; and in this manner, at
a slow pace, they advanced towards the village of Trantridge. From
time to time d'Urberville exhibited a sort of fierce distress at
the sight of the tramping he had driven her to undertake by his
misdemeanour.
Pages:
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96