Page:Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1891 Volume 2).pdf/191

 had come and settled on the palings in front of the house, within a few yards of them, and his notes thrilled their ears through, dwindling away like echoes down a valley of rocks.

‘Oh?’ said Mrs. Crick. ‘An afternoon crow?’

Two men were standing by the yard gate, holding it open.

‘That’s bad,’ one murmured to the other, not thinking that the words could be heard by the group at the door-wicket.

The cock crew again—straight towards Clare.

‘Well!’ said the dairyman.

‘I don’t like to hear him!’ said Tess to her husband. ‘Tell the man to drive on. Good-bye, good-bye!’

The cock crew again.

‘Hoosh! Just you be off, sir, or I’ll twist your neck!’ said the dairyman with some irritation, turning to the bird and driving him away. And to his wife as they went indoors: ‘Now, to think o’ that just to-day! I’ve not heard his crow of an afternoon all the year afore.’

‘It only means a change in the weather,’ said she; ‘not what you think: ’tis impossible!’