companions, was intensified in herself; and as if fearful of betraying her secret, she paltered with him at the last moment.
“I may be able to clim’ along the bank perhaps—I can clim’ better than they. You must be so tired, Mr. Clare!”
“No, no, Tess,” said he quickly. And almost before she was aware, she was seated in his arms and resting against his shoulder.
“Three Leahs to get one Rachel,” he whispered.
“They are better women than I,” she replied, magnanimously sticking to her resolve.
“Not to me,” said Angel.
He saw her grow warm at this; and they went some steps in silence.
“I hope I am not too heavy?” she said timidly.
“O no. You should lift Marian! Such a lump. You are like an undulating billow warmed by the sun. And all this fluff of muslin about you is the froth.”
“It is very pretty—if I seem like that to you.”
“Do you know that I have undergone three-quarters of this labour entirely for the sake of the fourth quarter?”
“No.”
“I did not expect such an event today.”
“Nor I … The water came up so sudden.”
That the rise in the water was what she understood him to refer to, the state of breathing belied. Clare stood still and inclinced his face towards