Maiden No More 6It was a Sunday morning in late October about four months after Tess's arrival at Trantridge ,and a few weeks after the night ride in The Chase.Carrying a heavy basket and bundle, Tess was walking towards the hills which divided her from the Vale,her place of birth.The scenery and people on this side were very different from those in her village.Marlott people mainly thought and travelled northward and westward, while on this side people were interested in the east and the south.She walked up the same hill which d’Urberville had driven down so wildly that June day.On reaching the top of the hill,Tess paused and looked for a long time at the familiar green world of home.It was always beautiful from here,but since she had last seen it,her view of life had changed.She had learnt that wickedness exists,even where there is beauty,and now she could hardly bear to look down into the Vale.Then she looked behind her and saw a carriage coming up the same hill that she had just climbed,with a man leading the horse.Soon he caught up with her.‘Why did you slip away in secret like that?’ asked d’Urberville breathlessly.‘I've been driving like mad to catch up with you.Just look at my horse!You know nobody would have prevented you from going.I'm going to drive you the rest of the way, if you won't come back with me.