Тэсс из рода д’Эрбервиллей

           “Angel—IshouldnothaveletitgoontomarriagewithyouifIhadnotknownthat,afterall,therewasalastwayoutofitforyou;thoughIhopedyouwouldnever—”

           Hervoicegrewhusky.

           “Alastway?”

           “Imean,togetridofme.YouCANgetridofme.”

           “How?”

           “Bydivorcingme.”

           “Goodheavens—howcanyoubesosimple!HowcanIdivorceyou?”

           “Can’tyou—nowIhavetoldyou?Ithoughtmyconfessionwouldgiveyougroundsforthat.”

           “OTess—youaretoo,too—childish—unformed—crude,Isuppose!Idon’tknowwhatyouare.Youdon’tunderstandthelaw—youdon’tunderstand!”

           “What—youcannot?”

           “IndeedIcannot.”

           Aquickshamemixedwiththemiseryuponhislistener’sface.

           “Ithought—Ithought,”shewhispered.“O,nowIseehowwickedIseemtoyou!Believeme—believeme,onmysoul,Ineverthoughtbutthatyoucould!Ihopedyouwouldnot;yetIbelieved,withoutadoubt,thatyoucouldcastmeoffifyouweredetermined,anddidn’tlovemeat—at—all!”

           “Youweremistaken,”hesaid.

           “O,thenIoughttohavedoneit,tohavedoneitlastnight!ButIhadn’tthecourage.That’sjustlikeme!”

           “Thecouragetodowhat?”

           Asshedidnotanswerhetookherbythehand.

           “Whatwereyouthinkingofdoing?”heinquired.

           “Ofputtinganendtomyself.”

           “When?”

           Shewrithedunderthisinquisitorialmannerofhis.“Lastnight,”sheanswered.

           “Where?”

           “Underyourmistletoe.”

           “Mygood—!How?”heaskedsternly.