going to London for a time—I can’t stand the old woman. But all letters will be forwarded.’
She said that she did not wish him to drive her farther, and they stopped just under the clump of trees. D’Urberville alighted, and lifted her down bodily in his arms, afterwards placing her articles on the ground beside her. She bowed to him slightly, her eye just lingering in his; and then she turned to take the parcels for departure.
Alec D’Urberville removed his cigar, bent towards her, and said—
‘You are not going to turn away like that, dear? Come!’
‘If you wish’, she answered indifferently. ‘See how you’ve mastered me!’
She thereupon turned round and lifted her face to his, and remained like a marble term while he imprinted a kiss upon her cheek—half perfunctorily, half as if zest had not yet quite died out. Her eyes vaguely rested upon the remotest trees in the lane while the kiss was given, as though she were nearly unconscious of what he did.
‘Now the other side, for old acquaintance’ sake.’
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