Page:Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1891 Volume 1).pdf/117

 to her very skin, and her washed hair flew out behind. She was determined to show no open fear, but she clutched D’Urberville’s rein-arm.

‘Don’t touch my arm! We shall be thrown out if you do! Hold on round my waist!’

She grasped his waist, and so they reached the bottom.

‘Safe, thank God, in spite of your folly!’ said she, her face on fire.

‘Tess—fie! that’s temper!’ said D’Urberville.

‘’Tis truth.’

‘Well, you need not let go your hold of me so thanklessly the moment you feel yourself out of danger.’

She had not considered what she had been doing; whether he were man or woman, stick or stone, in her involuntary held on him. Recovering her reserve she sat without replying, and thus they reached the summit of another declivity.

‘Now then, again!’ said D’Urberville.

‘No, no!’ said Tess, ‘Show more sense, do, please.’

‘But when people find themselves on one of