Тэсс из рода д’Эрбервиллей

           Hepassedonthroughthechurchyard,where,amongstthenewheadstones,hesawoneofasomewhatsuperiordesigntotherest.Theinscriptionranthus:

           InmemoryofJohnDurbeyfield,rightlyd’Urberville,of

           theoncepowerfulfamilyofthatName,andDirect

           DescendantthroughanillustriousLinefromSirPagan

           d’Urberville,oneoftheKnightsoftheConqueror.Died

           March10th,18—

           HOWARETHEMIGHTYFALLEN.

           Someman,apparentlythesexton,hadobservedClarestandingthere,anddrewnigh.“Ah,sir,nowthat’samanwhodidn’twanttoliehere,butwishedtobecarriedtoKingsbere,wherehisancestorsbe.”

           “Andwhydidn’ttheyrespecthiswish?”

           “Oh—nomoney.Blessyoursoul,sir,why—there,Iwouldn’twishtosayiteverywhere,but—eventhisheadstone,foralltheflourishwroteuponen,isnotpaidfor.”

           “Ah,whoputitup?”

           Themantoldthenameofamasoninthevillage,and,onleavingthechurchyard,Clarecalledatthemason’shouse.Hefoundthatthestatementwastrue,andpaidthebill.Thisdoneheturnedinthedirectionofthemigrants.

           Thedistancewastoolongforawalk,butClarefeltsuchastrongdesireforisolationthatatfirsthewouldneitherhireaconveyancenorgotoacircuitouslineofrailwaybywhichhemighteventuallyreachtheplace.AtShaston,however,hefoundhemusthire;butthewaywassuchthathedidnotenterJoan’splacetillaboutseveno’clockintheevening,havingtraversedadistanceofovertwentymilessinceleavingMarlott.