Tess, and hastened away from its hated presence without once looking back.
His way was by the field in which he had first beheld her at the dance. It was as bad as the house—even worse. He passed on through the churchyard, where, amongst the new headstones, he saw one of a somewhat superior design to the rest. The inscription ran thus:
In Memory of John Durbeyfield, rightly D'Urberville, of the once powerful family of that Name, and
Direct Descendant through an Illustrious Line from Sir
Bryan D'Urberville, one of the Knights of the Conqueror.
Died March 10th, 18———
How are the Mighty Fallen.
Some man, apparently the sexton, had observed Clare standing there, and drew nigh. 'Ah,
sir, now that's a man who didn't want to lie here,
but wished to be carried to Kingsbere, where his
ancestors be.'
'And why didn't they respect his wish?'
'Oh—no money. Bless your soul, sir, why—there, I wouldn't wish to say it everywhere, but—even this headstone, for all the flourish wrote upon en, is not paid for.'
