Chapter 43

           TherewasnoexaggerationinMarian’sdefinitionofFlintcomb-Ashfarmasastarve-acreplace.ThesinglefatthingonthesoilwasMarianherself;andshewasanimportation.Ofthethreeclassesofvillage,thevillagecaredforbyitslord,thevillagecaredforbyitself,andthevillageuncaredforeitherbyitselforbyitslord(inotherwords,thevillageofaresidentsquires’stenantry,thevillageoffreeorcopy-holders,andtheabsentee-owner’svillage,farmedwiththeland)thisplace,Flintcomb-Ash,wasthethird.

           ButTesssettowork.Patience,thatblendingofmoralcouragewithphysicaltimidity,wasnownolongeraminorfeatureinMrsAngelClare;anditsustainedher.

           Theswede-fieldinwhichsheandhercompanionweresethackingwasastretchofahundredoddacres,inonepatch,onthehighestgroundofthefarm,risingabovestonylanchetsorlynchets—theoutcropofsiliceousveinsinthechalkformation,composedofmyriadsofloosewhiteflintsinbulbous,cusped,andphallicshapes.Theupperhalfofeachturniphadbeeneatenoffbythelive-stock,anditwasthebusinessofthetwowomentogrubupthelowerorearthyhalfoftherootwithahookedforkcalledahacker,thatitmightbeeatenalso.Everyleafofthevegetablehavingalreadybeenconsumed,thewholefieldwasincolouradesolatedrab;itwasacomplexionwithoutfeatures,asifaface,fromchintobrow,shouldbeonlyanexpanseofskin.Theskywore,inanothercolour,thesamelikeness;awhitevacuityofcountenancewiththelineamentsgone.