She accepted these terms, and slid off on the near side, though not till he had stolen a cursory kiss. He sprang down on the other side.

`I suppose I must hold the horse?' said she.

`Oh no; it's not necessary,' replied Alec, patting the panting creature. `He's had enough of it for to-night.'

He turned the horse's head into the bushes, hitched him on to a bough, and made a sort of couch or nest for her in the deep mass of dead leaves.

`Now, you sit there,' he said. `The leaves have not got damp as yet. Just give an eye to the horse - it will be quite sufficient.'

He took a few steps away from her, but, returning, said, `By the bye, Tess, your father has a new cob to-day. Somebody gave it to him.'

`Somebody? You!'

D'Urberville nodded.

`O how very good of you that is!' she exclaimed, with a painful sense of the awkwardness of having to thank him just then.

`And the children have some toys.'

`I didn't know - you ever sent them anything!' she murmured, much moved. `I almost wish you had not - yes, I almost wish it!'

`Why, dear?'

`It - hampers me so.'

`Tessy - don't you love me ever so little now?'

`I'm grateful,' she reluctantly admitted. `But I fear I do not--' The sudden vision of his passion for herself as a factor in this result so distressed her that, beginning with one slow tear, and then following with another, she wept outright.

`Don't cry, dear, dear one! Now sit down here, and wait till I come.' She passively sat down amid the leaves he had heaped, and shivered slightly. `Are you cold?' he asked.

`Not very - a little.'

He touched her with his fingers, which sank into her as into down. `You have only that puffy muslin dress on - how's that?'

`It's my best summer one. 'Twas very warm when I started, and I didn't know I was going to ride, and that it would be night.'

`Nights grow chilly in September. Let me see.' He pulled off a light overcoat that he had worn, and put it round her tenderly. `That's it - now you'll feel warmer,' he continued. `Now, my pretty, rest there; I shall soon be back again.'

Having buttoned the overcoat round her shoulders he plunged into the webs of vapour which by this time formed veils between the trees. She could hear the rustling of the branches as he ascended the adjoining slope, till his movements were no louder than the hopping of a bird, and finally died away.


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