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 expected to find lodgings, so private was its appearance. If poor Tess was a servant here, as he feared, she would go to the back-door to that milkman, and he was inclined to go thither also. However, in his doubts he turned to the front, and rang.

The hour being early the landlady herself opened the door. Clare inquired for Teresa D'Urberville or Durbeyfield.

'Mrs. D'Urberville?'

'Yes.'

Tess, then, passed as a married woman, and he felt glad, even though she had not adopted his name.

'Will you kindly tell her that a relative is anxious to see her.'

'It is rather early. What name shall I give, sir?'

'Angel.'

'Mr. Angel?'

'No; Angel. It is my Christian name. She'll understand.'

'I'll see if she is awake,'

He was shown into the front room—the dining-room—and looked out through the spring