Page:Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1891 Volume 3).pdf/113

 'Yes—but swear it, swear it!' he pleaded desperately.

Tess, half frightened, gave way to his importunity; placed her hand upon the stone and swore.

'I am sorry you are not a believer,' he continued; 'that some unbeliever should have got hold of you and unsettled your mind. But no more now. At home at least I can pray for you; and I will; and who knows what may not happen? I'm off. Good-bye!'

He turned to a gap in the hedge, and without letting his eyes again rest upon her leapt over, and struck out across the down in the direction of Abbot's Cernel. As he walked his pace showed perturbation, and by-and-by, as if instigated by a bracing thought, he drew from his pocket a small Bible, between the leaves of which was folded a letter, worn and soiled, as from much re-reading. D'Urberville opened the letter. It was dated several months before this time, and was signed by Parson Clare.

The letter began by expressing the writer's unfeigned joy at D'Urberville's conversion, and thanked him for his kindness in communicating