Тесс з роду д’Ербервілей

Chapter 34

           Asallvisitorstothemansionareaware,thesepaintingsrepresentwomenofmiddleage,ofadatesometwohundredyearsago,whoselineamentsonceseencanneverbeforgotten.Thelongpointedfeatures,narroweye,andsmirkoftheone,sosuggestiveofmercilesstreachery;thebill-hooknose,largeteeth,andboldeyeoftheothersuggestingarrogancetothepointofferocity,hauntthebeholderafterwardsinhisdreams.

           “Whoseportraitsarethose?”askedClareofthecharwoman.

           “Ihavebeentoldbyoldfolkthattheywereladiesofthed’Urbervillefamily,theancientlordsofthismanor,”shesaid,“Owingtotheirbeingbuildedintothewalltheycan’tbemovedaway.”

           Theunpleasantnessofthematterwasthat,inadditiontotheireffectuponTess,herfinefeatureswereunquestionablytraceableintheseexaggeratedforms.Hesaidnothingofthis,however,and,regrettingthathehadgoneoutofhiswaytochoosethehousefortheirbridaltime,wentonintotheadjoiningroom.Theplacehavingbeenratherhastilypreparedforthemtheywashedtheirhandsinonebasin.Claretouchedhersunderthewater.

           “Whicharemyfingersandwhichareyours?”hesaid,lookingup.“Theyareverymuchmixed.”

           “Theyareallyours,”saidshe,veryprettily,andendeavouredtobegayerthanshewas.Hehadnotbeendispleasedwithherthoughtfulnessonsuchanoccasion;itwaswhateverysensiblewomanwouldshow:butTessknewthatshehadbeenthoughtfultoexcess,andstruggledagainstit.

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