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 she consented to accompany him. He conducted her about the lawns, and flower-beds, and conservatories; and thence to the fruit-garden, where he asked her if she liked strawberries.

‘Yes’, said Tess, ‘when they come.’

‘They are already here.’ D’Urberville began gathering specimens of the fruit for her, handing them back to her as he stooped; and, presently, selecting a specially fine product of the ‘British Queen’ variety, he stood up and held it by the stem to her mouth.

‘No—no!’ she said quickly, putting her fingers between his hand and her lips, ‘I would rather take it in my own hand.’

‘Nonsense!’ he insisted; and in a slight distress she parted her lips and took it in.

They had spent some time wandering desultorily thus. Tess eating in an abstracted half-hypnotised state whatever D’Urberville offered her. When she could consume no more of the strawberries he filled her little basket with them; and then the two passed round to the rose-trees, whence he gathered blossoms and gave her to put in her bosom. She obeyed, still like one in a dream, and when she could affix no more he himself