Тесс з роду д’Ербервілей

           Shehaddreamedofanagedanddignifiedface,thesublimationofallthed’Urbervillelineaments,furrowedwithincarnatememoriesrepresentinginhieroglyphicthecenturiesofherfamily’sandEngland’shistory.Butshescrewedherselfuptotheworkinhand,sinceshecouldnotgetoutofit,andanswered—

           “Icametoseeyourmother,sir.”

           “Iamafraidyoucannotseeher—sheisaninvalid,”repliedthepresentrepresentativeofthespurioushouse;forthiswasMrAlec,theonlysonofthelatelydeceasedgentleman.“CannotIansweryourpurpose?Whatisthebusinessyouwishtoseeherabout?”

           “Itisn’tbusiness—itis—Icanhardlysaywhat!”

           “Pleasure?”

           “Ohno.Why,sir,ifItellyou,itwillseem—”

           Tess’ssenseofacertainludicrousnessinhererrandwasnowsostrongthat,notwithstandingheraweofhim,andhergeneraldiscomfortatbeinghere,herrosylipscurvedtowardsasmile,muchtotheattractionoftheswarthyAlexander.

           “Itissoveryfoolish,”shestammered;“Ifearcan’ttellyou!”

           “Nevermind;Ilikefoolishthings.Tryagain,mydear,”saidhekindly.

           “Motheraskedmetocome,”Tesscontinued;“and,indeed,Iwasinthemindtodosomyselflikewise.ButIdidnotthinkitwouldbelikethis.Icame,sir,totellyouthatweareofthesamefamilyasyou.”

           “Ho!Poorrelations?”

           “Yes.”

           “Stokes?”

           “No;d’Urbervilles.”

           “Ay,ay;Imeand’Urbervilles.”

           “OurnamesarewornawaytoDurbeyfield;butwehaveseveralproofsthatweared’Urbervilles.