 forces of
outdoor Nature retain in their souls far more of the Pagan fantasy of their
remote forefathers than of the systematized religion taught their race at later
date. However, Tess found at least approximate expression for her feelings in
the old Benedicite that she had lisped from infancy; and it was enough. Such
high contentment with such a slight initial performance as that of having
started towards a means of independent living was a part of the Durbeyfield
temperament. Tess really wished to walk uprightly, while her father did nothing
of the kind; but she resembled him in being content with immediate and small
achievements, and in having no mind for laborious effort towards such petty
social advancement as could alone be effected by a family so heavily handicapped
as the once powerful d'Urbervilles were now.
    There was, it might be said, the energy of her mother's unexpended family,
as well as the natural energy of Tess's years, rekindled after the experience
which had so overwhelmed her for the time. Let the truth be told - women do as a
rule live through such humiliations, and regain their spirits, and again look
about them with an interested eye. While there's life there's hope is a
conviction not so entirely unknown to the »betrayed« as some amiable theorists
would have us believe.
    Tess Durbeyfield, then, in good heart, and full of zest for life, descended
the Egdon slopes lower and lower towards the dairy of her pilgrimage.
    The marked difference, in the final particular, between the rival vales now
showed itself. The secret of Blackmoor was best discovered from the heights
around; to read aright the valley before her it was necessary to descend into
its midst. When Tess had accomplished this feat she found herself to be standing
on a carpeted level, which stretched to the east and west as far as the eye
could reach.
    The river had stolen from the higher tracts and brought in particles to the
vale all this horizontal land; and now, exhausted, aged, and attenuated, lay
serpentining along through the midst of its former spoils.
    Not quite sure of her direction Tess stood still upon the hemmed expanse of
verdant flatness, like a fly on a billiard-table of indefinite length, and of no
more consequence to the surroundings than that fly. The sole effect of her
presence upon the placid valley so far had been to excite the mind of a solitary
heron, which, after descending to the ground not far from her path, stood with
neck erect, looking at her.
    Suddenly there arose from all parts of the lowland a prolonged and repeated
call
