Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Chapter 29 Summary & Analysis

At breakfast Dairyman Crick tells some news he has heard of Jack Dollop, the man from his butterchurn story. Dollop did not actually marry the girl he had wronged, but instead married a rich widow for her pension. But after they were married the widow revealed that she had lost her pension by marrying him. The table discusses whether it would have been better for the widow to tell Dollop the truth before they were married, even if it meant losing him. Again the workers find the story funny while to Tess it is tragic. To her it is like people laughing at a martyr.

Angel approaches and again proposes, and Tess refuses. He had planned to kiss her, but his surprise at her refusal stops him. It is only the recent story of Jack Dollop that makes Tess refuse this time. A few weeks pass of Angel's persuasive wooing, and Tess knows her resolve will soon break.

One dark, early morning Angel begs Tess to speak clearly at last, or he will have to leave. She asks for more time again, but agrees to call him “Angel dearest.” Angel kisses her for the first time upon the cheek, and Tess runs quickly downstairs.

Later Tess and Angel follow Marian, Retty, and Izz out and Angel remarks how different they are from he and Tess. Tess denies it and again says any of them would make a more proper wife for him than she would. Then she feels she has done her duty.

That afternoon the time passes faster than usual, and Dairyman Crick declares that someone needs to take the milk straight to the station. Angel volunteers and asks Tess to come with him. She is not dressed for cold, but agrees.