Clare's accent and manner with reverential faithfulness.
'Say that again,' asked d'Urberville, who had listened with the
greatest attention.
She repeated the argument, and d'Urberville thoughtfully murmured the
words after her.
'Anything else?' he presently asked.
'He said at another time something like this'; and she gave another,
which might possibly have been paralleled in many a work of the
pedigree ranging from the _Dictionnaire Philosophique_ to Huxley's
_Essays_.
'Ah--ha! How do you remember them?'
'I wanted to believe what he believed, though he didn't wish me to;
and I managed to coax him to tell me a few of his thoughts. I can't
say I quite understand that one; but I know it is right.'
'H'm. Fancy your being able to teach me what you don't know
yourself!'
He fell into thought.
'And so I threw in my spiritual lot with his,' she resumed. 'I
didn't wish it to be different. What's good enough for him is good
enough for me.'
'Does he know that you are as big an infidel as he?'
'No--I never told him--if I am an infidel.'
'Well--you are better off to-day that I am, Tess, after all! You
don't believe that you ought to preach my doctrine, and, therefore,
do no despite to your conscience in abstaining. I do believe I ought
to preach it, but, like the devils, I believe and tremble, for I
suddenly leave off preaching it, and give way to my passion for you.'
'How?'
'Why,' he said aridly; 'I have come all the way here to see you
to-day! But I started from home to go to Casterbridge Fair, where
I have undertaken to preach the Word from a waggon at half-past two
this afternoon, and where all the brethren are expecting me this
minute. Here's the announcement.'
He drew from his breast-pocket a poster whereon was printed the day,
hour, and place of meeting, at which he, d'Urberville, would preach
the Gospel as aforesaid.
'But how can you get there?' said Tess, looking at the clock.
'I cannot get there! I have come here.'
'What, you have really arranged to preach, and--'
'I have arranged to preach, and I shall not be there--by reason of my
burning desire to see a woman whom I once despised!--No, by my word
and truth, I never despised you; if I had I should not love you now!
Why I did not despise you was on account of your being unsmirched in
spite of all; you withdrew yourself from me so quickly and resolutely
when you saw the situation; you did not remain at my pleasure; so
there was one petticoat in the world for whom I had no contempt,
and you are she. But you may well despise me now! I thought I
worshipped on the mountains, but I find I still serve in the groves!
Ha! ha!'
