Page:Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1891 Volume 2).pdf/169

 One Sunday morning Izz Huett returned from church, and spoke privately to Tess.

‘You was not called home this morning.’

‘What?’

‘It should ha’ been the first time of asking to-day,’ she answered, looking quietly at Tess. ‘You meant to be married New Year’s Eve, deary?’

The other returned a quick affirmative.

‘And there must be three times of asking. And now there be only two Sundays left between.’

Tess felt her cheek paling; Izz was right; of course there must be three. Perhaps he had forgotten! If so, there must be a week’s postponement, and that was unlucky. How could she remind her lover? She who had been so backward was suddenly fired with impatience and alarm lest she should lose her dear prize.

A natural incident relieved her anxiety. Izz mentioned the omission of the banns to Mrs. Crick, and Mrs. Crick assumed a matron’s privilege of speaking to Angel on the point.