She closed the door, and withdrew as softly as she had come,
to go and consult with her neighbours on the odd discovery.
Not more than a minute had elapsed after her withdrawal when Tess
woke, and then Clare. Both had a sense that something had disturbed
them, though they could not say what; and the uneasy feeling which
it engendered grew stronger. As soon as he was dressed he narrowly
scanned the lawn through the two or three inches of shutter-chink.
"I think we will leave at once," said he. "It is a fine day. And I
cannot help fancying somebody is about the house. At any rate, the
woman will be sure to come to-day."
She passively assented, and putting the room in order, they took up
the few articles that belonged to them, and departed noiselessly.
When they had got into the Forest she turned to take a last look at
the house.
"Ah, happy house--goodbye!" she said. "My life can only be a
question of a few weeks. Why should we not have stayed there?"
"Don't say it, Tess! We shall soon get out of this district
altogether. We'll continue our course as we've begun it, and keep
straight north. Nobody will think of looking for us there. We shall
be looked for at the Wessex ports if we are sought at all.
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