Chapter 38

           AsshedroveonthroughBlackmoorVale,andthelandscapeofheryouthbegantoopenaroundher,Tessarousedherselffromherstupor.Herfirstthoughtwashowwouldshebeabletofaceherparents?

           Shereachedaturnpike-gatewhichstooduponthehighwaytothevillage.Itwasthrownopenbyastranger,notbytheoldmanwhohadkeptitformanyyears,andtowhomshehadbeenknown;hehadprobablyleftonNewYear’sDay,thedatewhensuchchangesweremade.Havingreceivednointelligencelatelyfromherhome,sheaskedtheturnpike-keeperfornews.

           “Oh—nothing,miss,”heanswered.“MarlottisMarlottstill.Folkshavediedandthat.JohnDurbeyfield,too,hevhadadaughtermarriedthisweektoagentleman-farmer;notfromJohn’sownhouse,youknow;theywasmarriedelsewhere;thegentlemanbeingofthathighstandingthatJohn’sownfolkwasnotconsideredwell-be-doingenoughtohaveanypartinit,thebridegroomseemingnottoknowhow’thavebeendiscoveredthatJohnisaoldandancientnoblemanhimselfbyblood,withfamilyskillentonsintheirownvaultstothisday,butdoneoutofhispropertyinthetimeo’theRomans.However,SirJohn,aswecall‘nnow,keptupthewedding-dayaswellashecould,andstoodtreattoeverybodyintheparish;andJohn’swifesungsongsatThePureDroptillpasteleveno’clock.”

           Hearingthis,Tessfeltsosickatheartthatshecouldnotdecidetogohomepubliclyintheflywithherluggageandbelongings.