介绍:
Worried by her father’s strange appearance that afternoon, Tess decided to walk home. After the excitement of the dance, her parents’ small cottage was a depressing sight. It was dark inside, as they had only one candle. The furniture was old and worn. There were six children crowded into the tiny space. Their mother was doing the washing at the same time as putting the baby to sleep. Looking after so many children had aged Joan Durbeyfield, but she still showed some of her early prettiness, which Tess had inherited.
“Let me help with the washing, mother,” said Tess gently.
“Oh Tess, I’m glad you’ve come,” said her mother. “There’s something I must tell you.”
“Is it anything to do with father making such a fool of himself this afternoon?” asked Tess, frowning.
“That’s all part of the excitement! They’ve discovered we’re the oldest family in the whole county, going back a long way! And our real name is d’Urberville! Doesn’t that make you proud! That’s why your father rode home in the carriage, not because he’d been drinking, as people thought,” said Tess’ mother.
“I’m glad of that. Will it do us any good, mother?”
“Oh, yes! Great things may come of it. No doubt our noble relations will be arriving in their carriages as soon as they find out.”
“Where is father now?” asked Tess suddenly.
Her mother didn’t answer directly, “He saw the doctor today, you know. It’s fat round the heart, he says. That’s the cause of his illness. He might last ten years ... might last ten months or days.”
Tess looked anxious. Her father, suddenly a great man, to die so soon! “But where is father?” she asked firmly.
“Now don’t you get angry!” said Mrs Durbeyfield. “The poor man was feeling so weak after the news that he went to Rolliver’s. He needs to build up his strength to deliver the beehives tomorrow, remember.”
“Oh my God!” cried Tess. “He went to a public house! And you agreed to it, Mother!”
“No, I didn’t,” said Mrs Durbeyfield crossly. “I’ve been waiting for you to look after the children while I fetch him.”
Tess knew that her mother greatly looked forward to these trips to Rolliver’s. There she could sit by her husband’s side among the beer-drinkers, and forget that the children existed. It was one of the few bright moments in her hardworking life. Mrs Durbeyfield went out, and Tess was left with the children. They were very young, and totally dependent on the Durbeyfield couple: six helpless creatures who had not asked to be born at all, much less to be part of the irresponsible Durbeyfield family.
