第05期-处女(5) Chapter 5 The Maiden 5

The chickens for which Tess was responsible lived in an old cottage on Mrs d'Urberville's land. On her first day Tess had to take some of the chickens to show to their owner.

She immediately realized the old lady was blind. Mrs d'Urberville held each bird and felt it carefully to see that it was in good health.

At the end she suddenly asked Tess a question. 'Can you whistle? ' 'Whistle, Ma'am? '

'Yes, whistle tunes. I want you to practise and whistle to my birds every day. ' 'Yes, Ma'am. '

Tess was not surprised at Mrs d'Urberville's cold manner, and did not expect any more of such a great lady. However, she did not realize that the old lady had never even heard about the family connection.

Tess began to enjoy her new work with the chickens, and the next day in the cottage garden she decided to practise whistling as instructed. She was shocked to find that she had completely forgotten how to whistle.

Suddenly she noticed a movement behind a tree near the wall. It was Alec d'Urberville. 'Well, cousin Tess, ' he said, 'I've never seen such a beautiful thing as you!

I've been watching you from over the wall. Look, I can give you a lesson or two. ' 'Oh no you won't! ' cried Tess, going back towards the door.

'Don't worry, I won't touch you. Just look… ' and he showed her how to whistle. From that moment Tess found she could whistle tunes to the birds just as Mrs d'Urberville wanted.

And as the weeks passed, she often met d'Urberville in the garden and began to lose her shyness of him. Every Saturday night the other farm workers from the surrounding area used to go to drink and dance in the market town two or three miles away.