Tess of the DUrbervilles
Thomas Hardy
Contributed by Harvey Landy
Chapter 10
Summary

In Trantridge, the main forms of entertainment are Saturday night excursions to Chaseborough, a market town a few miles away. Though Tess stays away from these activities initially, she is convinced to attend and has a delightful time in the company of the others. She continues to attend, to escape the monotony of her job, and one Saturday, like the others before it, she heads out towards Chaseborough to meet up with her friends.

At first, she cannot find them after she has done her own shopping, but she is told that they are all in attendance at a nearby house. Making her way there in order to walk home with them, she encounters Alec but leaves him after telling him where she is headed. At the house, she finds her friends enjoying themselves immensely, which worries Tess since she fears none of them will be heading home until late. She waits and waits, not feeling in the mood to dance, and soon she sees Alec d’Urberville looking at her. She confides in him her troubles and even though he offers her a ride home, she refuses saying that her friends expect her to walk with them. After a long wait, Tess’ company is finally ready for the walk home.

As they walk, one of the girls, Car Darch, accidentally is stained with treacle, making for a humorous sight, causing Tess to laugh. Car, disliking Tess for being Alec’s girl of interest, shuns Tess for her laughter, singling her from the crowd. She threatens to fight Tess in retaliation but Tess is too outraged and ashamed to match her.

Just then, Alec comes along, asking what the row is about although he overhears its cause and needs no explanation. He calls for Tess to jump up behind him on his horse, and Tess does so, although under less straining circumstances she most likely would not have. The crowd manages to re-organize itself while Alec and Tess ride off.

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