The rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed quartet looked so charming in their
light summer attire, clinging to the roadside bank like pigeons on a
roof-slope, that he stopped a moment to regard them before coming
close. Their gauzy skirts had brushed up from the grass innumerable
flies and butterflies which, unable to escape, remained caged in
the transparent tissue as in an aviary. Angel's eye at last fell
upon Tess, the hindmost of the four; she, being full of suppressed
laughter at their dilemma, could not help meeting his glance
radiantly. He came beneath them in the water, which did not rise over his long
boots; and stood looking at the entrapped flies and butterflies.
"Are you trying to get to church?" he said to Marian, who was in
front, including the next two in his remark, but avoiding Tess.
"Yes, sir; and 'tis getting late; and my colour do come up so--"
"I'll carry you through the pool--every Jill of you."
The whole four flushed as if one heart beat through them.
"I think you can't, sir," said Marian. "It is the only way for you to get past.
Stand still. Nonsense--you
are not too heavy! I'd carry you all four together. Now, Marian,
attend," he continued, "and put your arms round my shoulders, so.
Now! Hold on. That's well done."
Marian had lowered herself upon his arm and shoulder as directed, and
Angel strode off with her, his slim figure, as viewed from behind,
looking like the mere stem to the great nosegay suggested by hers.
They disappeared round the curve of the road, and only his sousing
footsteps and the top ribbon of Marian's bonnet told where they were.
In a few minutes he reappeared. Izz Huett was the next in order upon
the bank.
"Here he comes," she murmured, and they could hear that her lips were
dry with emotion. "And I have to put my arms round his neck and look
into his face as Marian did." "There's nothing in that," said Tess quickly.
"There's a time for everything," continued Izz, unheeding. "A time
to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; the first is now
going to be mine." "Fie--it is Scripture, Izz!"
"Yes," said Izz, "I've always a' ear at church for pretty verses."
Angel Clare, to whom three-quarters of this performance was a
commonplace act of kindness, now approached Izz. She quietly and
dreamily lowered herself into his arms, and Angel methodically
marched off with her. When he was heard returning for the third time
Retty's throbbing heart could be almost seen to shake her. He went
up to the red-haired girl, and while he was seizing her he glanced at
Tess. His lips could not have pronounced more plainly, "It will soon
be you and I." Her comprehension appeared in her face; she could not
help it. There was an understanding between them.