Tess of the d'Urbervilles Chapter 52

Angel returns to Emminister a thinner, duller version of himself and his parents give him Tess 's latest letter full of blame and anger. He realizes that she is right and is sad that he has treated her so badly. His mother, thinking to comfort him, tells him not to mourn a girl as lowly as a dairymaid, and he tells his parents that Tess is a d'Urberville as his way of defending her.

Angel sees that Tess might not be so willing to have him back as her desperately sad letter indicated, but he decides that he has to find her and see her. He writes to her mother in Marlott only to learn that Joan no longer lives there and Tess is not with her at the time. Joan says she will write to Angel when Tess returns, but Angel doesn't want to wait that long.

Just before he leaves to find Tess, he receives the anonymous letter from Marian and Izz and knows that he must find Tess.