Chapter 8

           Havingmountedbesideher,Alecd’Urbervilledroverapidlyalongthecrestofthefirsthill,chattingcomplimentstoTessastheywent,thecartwithherboxbeingleftfarbehind.Risingstill,animmenselandscapestretchedaroundthemoneveryside;behind,thegreenvalleyofherbirth,before,agraycountryofwhichsheknewnothingexceptfromherfirstbriefvisittoTrantridge.Thustheyreachedthevergeofaninclinedownwhichtheroadstretchedinalongstraightdescentofnearlyamile.

           Eversincetheaccidentwithherfather’shorseTessDurbeyfield,courageousasshenaturallywas,hadbeenexceedinglytimidonwheels;theleastirregularityofmotionstartledher.Shebegantogetuneasyatacertainrecklessnessinherconductor’sdriving.

           “Youwillgodownslow,sir,Isuppose?”shesaidwithattemptedunconcern.

           D’Urbervillelookedrounduponher,nippedhiscigarwiththetipsofhislargewhitecentre-teeth,andallowedhislipstosmileslowlyofthemselves.

           “Why,Tess,”heanswered,afteranotherwhiffortwo,“itisn’tabravebouncinggirllikeyouwhoasksthat?Why,Ialwaysgodownatfullgallop.There’snothinglikeitforraisingyourspirits.”

           “Butperhapsyouneednotnow?”

           “Ah,”hesaid,shakinghishead,“therearetwotobereckonedwith.Itisnotmealone.Tibhadtobeconsidered,andshehasaveryqueertemper.”

           “Who?”

           “Why,thismare.Ifancyshelookedroundatmeinaverygrimwayjustthen.Didn’tyounoticeit?”

           “Don’ttrytofrightenme,sir,”saidTessstiffly.