Chapter 5

           Thehagglingbusiness,whichhadmainlydependedonthehorse,becamedisorganizedforthwith.Distress,ifnotpenury,loomedinthedistance.Durbeyfieldwaswhatwaslocallycalledaslack-twistedfellow;hehadgoodstrengthtoworkattimes;butthetimescouldnotbereliedontocoincidewiththehoursofrequirement;and,havingbeenunaccustomedtotheregulartoiloftheday-labourer,hewasnotparticularlypersistentwhentheydidsocoincide.

           Tess,meanwhile,astheonewhohaddraggedherparentsintothisquagmire,wassilentlywonderingwhatshecoulddotohelpthemoutofit;andthenhermotherbroachedherscheme.

           “Wemusttaketheupswi’thedowns,Tess,”saidshe;“andnevercouldyourhighbloodhavebeenfoundoutatamorecalled-formoment.Youmusttryyourfriends.DoyeknowthatthereisaveryrichMrsd’Urbervillelivingontheoutskirtso’TheChase,whomustbeourrelation?Youmustgotoherandclaimkin,andaskforsomehelpinourtrouble.”

           “Ishouldn’tcaretodothat,”saysTess.“Ifthereissuchalady,‘twouldbeenoughforusifshewerefriendly—nottoexpecthertogiveushelp.”

           “Youcouldwinherroundtodoanything,mydear.Besides,perhapsthere’smoreinitthanyouknowof.I’veheardwhatI’veheard,good-now.