Chapter 37

           Midnightcameandpassedsilently,fortherewasnothingtoannounceitintheValleyoftheFroom.

           Notlongafteroneo’clocktherewasaslightcreakinthedarkenedfarmhouseoncethemansionofthed’Urbervilles.Tess,whousedtheupperchamber,hearditandawoke.Ithadcomefromthecornerstepofthestaircase,which,asusual,waslooselynailed.Shesawthedoorofherbedroomopen,andthefigureofherhusbandcrossedthestreamofmoonlightwithacuriouslycarefultread.Hewasinhisshirtandtrousersonly,andherfirstflushofjoydiedwhensheperceivedthathiseyeswerefixedinanunnaturalstareonvacancy.Whenhereachedthemiddleoftheroomhestoodstillandmurmuredintonesofindescribablesadness—

           “Dead!dead!dead!”

           Undertheinfluenceofanystrongly-disturbingforceClarewouldoccasionallywalkinhissleep,andevenperformstrangefeats,suchashehaddoneonthenightoftheirreturnfrommarketjustbeforetheirmarriage,whenhere-enactedinhisbedroomhiscombatwiththemanwhohadinsultedher.Tesssawthatcontinuedmentaldistresshadwroughthimintothatsomnambulisticstatenow.

           Herloyalconfidenceinhimlaysodeepdowninherheart,that,awakeorasleep,heinspiredherwithnosortofpersonalfear.Ifhehadenteredwithapistolinhishandhewouldscarcelyhavedisturbedhertrustinhisprotectiveness.

           Clarecameclose,andbentoverher.“Dead,dead,dead!”hemurmured.