Tess of the d'Urbervilles: Chapter 31 Summary & Analysis

Tess writes a letter to her mother, and soon gets a response. Joan writes in a rustic, uneducated manner, congratulating Tess's marriage but warning her to not mention her past “Trouble.” She knows it is in Tess's nature to be honest, but says she would be a fool to talk about her past to Angel.

Tess realizes that to Joan her past horrors were but a fleeting trouble, but that she might be right about keeping silent. Tess is somewhat calmed by the letter. That autumn is one of the happiest times of her life. She loves Angel with perfect trust bordering on worship, assured that he is the ideal of goodness and intellect. She tries to dismiss the past altogether.

Tess is constantly surprised by Angel's chivalry and thoughtfulness. In reality she exaggerates his qualities, but he is a good, spiritual man, and loves with his mind as much as his heart. This especially pleases Tess in comparison with her past experiences.

Tess seeks out Angel whenever they are outdoors, which seems presumptuous and immodest to him until he realizes it is the country way. They walk together by brooks and through fogs, and watch men digging in the rich, fertile soil.

Angel keeps his arm around Tess as they walk, and Tess asks if he would be ashamed if his Emminster friends found out about it. Angel jokes that a Clare could never be ashamed of a d'Urberville, and says that he does not care what they think, since they will probably move to another part of England or another country altogether. Tess is overcome with emotion at this idea of their future. They stand on a bridge with a river and many animals passing below.

They walk also in the evenings, and the other workers note the excited change in Tess's voice as they talk, and her gait which is like a bird about to land. Her love for Angel begins to envelop every aspect of Tess's personality, but she never forgets the darkness lurking beyond her happy bubble.

One evening they are at home alone when Tess again protests that she is unworthy. Angel responds that being honest and true is better than fitting any convention of society. Tess wishes he had stayed long ago at the May-Day dance and married her then. Angel feels she is being moody and asks why she so strongly regrets such a thing. Tess deflects by saying they would have had more time together then.

The narrator points out that Tess is still a girl and not yet mature despite her dark past. She leaves for a while to calm down, and when she finally returns Angel says she has been acting capricious. Tess agrees, but promises it is not in her nature.

Angel wants to set a wedding date, but Tess delays, hoping to linger as they are. Angel is concerned with his future as a farmer, and wants Tess to help him starting out. The potential nearness of the wedding strikes Tess and she realizes again that it is real.

At that moment the Cricks and two milkmaids enter, and Tess pulls away from Angel, denying that she was sitting on his knee. Dairyman Crick says he wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't said anything. Angel declares their betrothal, and Crick congratulates him. Tess had disappeared at the look of the dairymaids.

After dinner Tess's roommates confront her and she admits they are getting married. The three gather around Tess and lay hands on her in awe. They want to dislike her, but cannot. Tess again says they are all better than she is, and bursts into tears.

The women comfort Tess and put her in bed, and then Marian asks her to think of them when she is with Angel, and to remember how they loved him and could not hate her. Tess cries and resolves again to tell Angel the truth, as her silence seems an offense against these honest women.