Тесс з роду д’Ербервілей

Chapter 56

           Thisfirstfloor,containingMrsBrooks’sbestapartments,hadbeentakenbytheweekbythed’Urbervilles.Thebackroomwasnowinsilence;butfromthedrawing-roomtherecamesounds.

           Allthatshecouldatfirstdistinguishofthemwasonesyllable,continuallyrepeatedinalownoteofmoaning,asifitcamefromasoulboundtosomeIxionianwheel—

           “O—O—O!”

           Thenasilence,thenaheavysigh,andagain—

           “O—O—O!”

           Thelandladylookedthroughthekeyhole.Onlyasmallspaceoftheroominsidewasvisible,butwithinthatspacecameacornerofthebreakfasttable,whichwasalreadyspreadforthemeal,andalsoachairbeside.OvertheseatofthechairTess’sfacewasbowed,herposturebeingakneelingoneinfrontofit;herhandswereclaspedoverherhead,theskirtsofherdressing-gownandtheembroideryofhernight-gownfloweduponthefloorbehindher,andherstockinglessfeet,fromwhichtheslippershadfallen,protrudeduponthecarpet.Itwasfromherlipsthatcamethemurmurofunspeakabledespair.

           Thenaman’svoicefromtheadjoiningbedroom—

           “What’samatter?”

           Shedidnotanswer,butwenton,inatonewhichwasasoliloquyratherthananexclamation,andadirgeratherthanasoliloquy.MrsBrookscouldonlycatchaportion:

           “Andthenmydear,dearhusbandcamehometome...andIdidnotknowit!...Andyouhadusedyourcruelpersuasionuponme...youdidnotstopusingit—no—youdidnotstop!Mylittlesistersandbrothersandmymother’sneeds—theywerethethingsyoumovedmeby...

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