Page:Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1891 Volume 3).pdf/137

 there never was such a maddening mouth since Eve's!' His voice sank, and a hot archness shot from his own black eyes. 'You temptress, Tess; you dear witch of Babylon—I could not resist you as soon as I met you again!'

'I couldn't help your seeing me again!' said Tess recoiling.

'I know it—I repeat that I do not blame you. But the fact remains. When I saw you ill-used on the farm that day I was nearly mad to think that I had no legal right to protect you—that I could not have it; whilst he who has it seems to neglect you utterly!'

'Don't speak against him—he is absent!' she cried excitedly. 'Treat him honourably—he has never wronged you! Oh, leave his wife before any scandal spreads that may do grievous harm to his honest name!'

'I will—I will,' he said, like a man awakening from a lurid dream. 'I have broken my engagement to preach Christ to those poor drunken sinners at the fair—it is the first time I have done such a monstrous thing! A month ago I should have been horrified at such a possibility. I'll go away—to hide—and—ah, can I!—pray'