day before, making nearly twenty in the straw already. Ah--is it
that the farmer don't want my help for the calving? O, I am not
wanted here any more! And I have tried so hard to--'
'Crick didn't exactly say that he would no longer require you. But,
knowing what our relations were, he said in the most good-natured
and respectful manner possible that he supposed on my leaving at
Christmas I should take you with me, and on my asking what he would
do without you he merely observed that, as a matter of fact, it was a
time of year when he could do with a very little female help. I am
afraid I was sinner enough to feel rather glad that he was in this
way forcing your hand.'
'I don't think you ought to have felt glad, Angel. Because 'tis
always mournful not to be wanted, even if at the same time 'tis
convenient.'
'Well, it is convenient--you have admitted that.' He put his finger
upon her cheek. 'Ah!' he said.
'What?'
'I feel the red rising up at her having been caught! But why should
I trifle so! We will not trifle--life is too serious.'
'It is. Perhaps I saw that before you did.'
She was seeing it then. To decline to marry him after all--in
obedience to her emotion of last night--and leave the dairy, meant
to go to some strange place, not a dairy; for milkmaids were not in
request now calving-time was coming on; to go to some arable farm
where no divine being like Angel Clare was. She hated the thought,
and she hated more the thought of going home.
'So that, seriously, dearest Tess,' he continued, 'since you will
probably have to leave at Christmas, it is in every way desirable and
convenient that I should carry you off then as my property. Besides,
if you were not the most uncalculating girl in the world you would
know that we could not go on like this for ever.'
'I wish we could. That it would always be summer and autumn, and you
always courting me, and always thinking as much of me as you have
done through the past summer-time!'
'I always shall.'
'O, I know you will!' she cried, with a sudden fervour of faith
in him. 'Angel, I will fix the day when I will become yours for
always!'
Thus at last it was arranged between them, during that dark walk
home, amid the myriads of liquid voices on the right and left.
When they reached the dairy Mr and Mrs Crick were promptly told--with
injunctions of secrecy; for each of the lovers was desirous that the
marriage should be kept as private as possible. The dairyman, though
he had thought of dismissing her soon, now made a great concern about
losing her. What should he do about his skimming? Who would make
the ornamental butter-pats for the Anglebury and Sandbourne ladies?
Mrs Crick congratulated Tess on the shilly-shallying having at last
come to an end, and said that directly she set eyes on Tess she
divined that she was to be the chosen one of somebody who was no
