Tess of the d'Urbervilles Chapter 21
Tess does not know that Marian, Rhetty, and Izz are in love with Angel until she overhears them talking as they look at him out the window of their room. They are talking about how he is in love with Tess. Tess feels guilty because she knows that any of the pure milkmaids deserve Angel more than she does because of her past with Alec. She feels that she should step aside and let the other three girls have a chance to win Angel because that would be better for him and the girls.