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HE twain cantered along for some time without speech, Tess as she clung to him still panting in her triumph, yet in other respects dubious. She had perceived that the horse was not the spirited one he sometimes rode, and felt no alarm on that score, though her seat was precarious enough. She asked him to slow the animal to a walk, which Alec accordingly did.

‘Neatly done, was it not, dear Tess,’ he said by and by.

‘Yes!’ said she. ‘I am sure I ought to be much obliged to you.’

‘And are you?’

She did not reply.

‘Tess, why do you always dislike my kissing you?’

‘I supposebecause I don’t love you.’