innocent eyes added eloquence to colour and shape, She wore a red ribbon in her hair, and was the only one of the white company who could boast of such a pronounced adornment. As she looked round Durbeyfield was seen moving along the read in a chaise belonging to The Pure Drop, driven by a frizzle-headed brawny damsel, with her gown-sleeves rolled above her elbows. This was the cheerful servant of that establishment, who, in her part of factotum, turned groom and ostler at times. Durbeyfield, leaning back, and with his eyes closed luxuriously, was waving his hand above his head, and singing in a slow recitative—
‘I’ve-got-a-great-family-vault-at-Kingsbere—and-knighted-forefathers-in-lead-coffins-there!’
The clubbists tittered, except the girl called Tess—in whom a slow heat seemed to rise at the sense that her father was making himself foolish in their eyes.
‘He’s tired, that’s all,’ she said hastily, ‘and he has got a lift home, because our own horse has to rest to-day.’
‘Bless thy simplicity, Tess,’ said her companions. ‘He’s got his market-nitch. Haw-haw!’
19
