—fromTessofthed’Urbervilles(Chapter20)
ThomasHardy
[1]’sinstalmentofflowers, leaves, nightingales, thrushes, finches, andsuchephemeralcreatures, , liftedupsapinnoiselessstreams, openedpetals, andsuckedoutscentsininvisiblejetsandbreathings.
[2]DairymanCrick’shouseholdofmaidsandmenlivedoncomfortably, placidly, , beingabovethelineatwhichneedinessends, andbelowthelineatwhichtheconvenancesbegintocrampnaturalfeelings, andthestressofthreadbaremodishnessmakestoolittleofenough.
[3], everbalancedontheedgeofapassion, , underanirresistiblelaw, assurelyastwostreamsinonevale.
[4]Tesshadneverinherrecentlifebeensohappyasshewasnow, , foronething, , andClarealso, stoodasyetonthedebatablelandbetweenpredilectionandlove; wherenoprofunditieshavebeenreached; noreflectionshavesetin, awkwardlyinquiring, “Whitherdoesthisnewcurrenttendtocarryme? Whatdoesitmeantomyfuture? Howdoesitstandtowardsmypast?”
[5]TesswasthemereststrayphenomenontoAngelClareasyet—, deeminghispreoccupationtobenomorethanaphilosopher’sregardofanexceedinglynovel, fresh, andinterestingspecimenofwomankind.
