Tess of the dUrbervilles | Page 2

day in the preceding spring when, having
been engaged in tracing the vicissitudes of the d'Urberville family, he
had observed Durbeyfield's name on his waggon, and had thereupon
been led to make inquiries about his father and grandfather till he had
no doubt on the subject.
"At first I resolved not to disturb you with such a useless piece of
information," said he. "However, our impulses are too strong for our
judgement sometimes. I thought you might perhaps know something of
it all the while."
"Well, I have heard once or twice, 'tis true, that my family had seen
better days afore they came to Blackmoor. But I took no notice o't,
thinking it to mean that we had once kept two horses where we now
keep only one. I've got a wold silver spoon, and a wold graven seal at
home, too; but, Lord, what's a spoon and seal? ... And to think that I
and these noble d'Urbervilles were one flesh all the time. 'Twas said

that my gr't-granfer had secrets, and didn't care to talk of where he
came from... And where do we raise our smoke, now, parson, if I may
make so bold; I mean, where do we d'Urbervilles live?"
"You don't live anywhere. You are extinct--as a county family."
"That's bad."
"Yes--what the mendacious family chronicles call extinct in the male
line--that is, gone down--gone under."
"Then where do we lie?"
"At Kingsbere-sub-Greenhill: rows and rows of you in your vaults,
with your effigies under Purbeck-marble canopies."
"And where be our family mansions and estates?"
"You haven't any."
"Oh? No lands neither?"
"None; though you once had 'em in abundance, as I said, for you family
consisted of numerous branches. In this county there was a seat of
yours at Kingsbere, and another at Sherton, and another in Millpond,
and another at Lullstead, and another at Wellbridge."
"And shall we ever come into our own again?"
"Ah--that I can't tell!"
"And what had I better do about it, sir?" asked Durbeyfield, after a
pause.
"Oh--nothing, nothing; except chasten yourself with the thought of
'how are the mighty fallen.' It is a fact of some interest to the local
historian and genealogist, nothing more. There are several families
among the cottagers of this county of almost equal lustre. Good night."

"But you'll turn back and have a quart of beer wi' me on the strength o't,
Pa'son Tringham? There's a very pretty brew in tap at The Pure
Drop--though, to be sure, not so good as at Rolliver's."
"No, thank you--not this evening, Durbeyfield. You've had enough
already." Concluding thus, the parson rode on his way, with doubts as
to his discretion in retailing this curious bit of lore.
When he was gone, Durbeyfield walked a few steps in a profound
reverie, and then sat down upon the grassy bank by the roadside,
depositing his basket before him. In a few minutes a youth appeared in
the distance, walking in the same direction as that which had been
pursued by Durbeyfield. The latter, on seeing him, held up his hand,
and the lad quickened his pace and came near.
"Boy, take up that basket! I want 'ee to go on an errand for me."
The lath-like stripling frowned. "Who be you, then, John Durbeyfield,
to order me about and call me 'boy'? You know my name as well as I
know yours!"
"Do you, do you? That's the secret--that's the secret! Now obey my
orders, and take the message I'm going to charge 'ee wi'... Well, Fred, I
don't mind telling you that the secret is that I'm one of a noble race--it
has been just found out by me this present afternoon, P.M." And as he
made the announcement, Durbeyfield, declining from his sitting
position, luxuriously stretched himself out upon the bank among the
daisies.
The lad stood before Durbeyfield, and contemplated his length from
crown to toe.
"Sir John d'Urberville--that's who I am," continued the prostrate man.
"That is if knights were baronets--which they be. 'Tis recorded in
history all about me. Dost know of such a place, lad, as
Kingsbere-sub-Greenhill?"
"Ees. I've been there to Greenhill Fair."

"Well, under the church of that city there lie--"
"'Tisn't a city, the place I mean; leastwise 'twaddn' when I was
there--'twas a little one-eyed, blinking sort o' place."
"Never you mind the place, boy, that's not the question before us.
Under the church of that there parish lie my ancestors--hundreds of
'em--in coats of mail and jewels, in gr't lead coffins weighing tons and
tons. There's not a man in the county o' South-Wessex that's got
grander and nobler skillentons in his family than I."
"Oh?"
"Now take up that basket, and goo on to Marlott, and when you've
come to The Pure Drop Inn, tell 'em