"
"Oh? Well, I know nothing about that; but if you be Mrs Durbeyfield,
I am sent to tell 'ee that the rooms you wanted be let. We didn't
know that you was coming till we got your letter this morning--when
'twas too late. But no doubt you can get other lodgings somewhere."
The man had noticed the face of Tess, which had become ash-pale at
his intelligence. Her mother looked hopelessly at fault. "What
shall we do now, Tess?" she said bitterly. "Here's a welcome to
your ancestors' lands! However, let's try further."
They moved on into the town, and tried with all their might, Tess
remaining with the waggon to take care of the children whilst her
mother and 'Liza-Lu made inquiries. At the last return of Joan to
the vehicle, an hour later, when her search for accommodation had
still been fruitless, the driver of the waggon said the goods must be
unloaded, as the horses were half-dead, and he was bound to return
part of the way at least that night.
"Very well--unload it here," said Joan recklessly. "I'll get shelter
somewhere."
The waggon had drawn up under the churchyard wall, in a spot screened
from view, and the driver, nothing loth, soon hauled down the poor
heap of household goods.
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