Tess of the d'Urbervilles Chapter 6
D'Urberville, in his mother's name, sends a letter to Tess offering her a job at the manor in Tantridge taking care of the chickens and finches. Tess doesn't want to go there, although she isn't quite sure why she feels that way. She tries to find work in Marlott with no success. D'Urberville stops by her family's house one day while she is out job-hunting and tells the Durbeyfields how impressed he is with Tess and how much his mother wants Tess to work for her (although his mother has no idea what's going on). Joan thinks this means that Mrs. d'Urberville is going to take Tess in and claim her as a relative and marry her to Alec. Tess doesn't feel so sure that this is an accurate interpretation of the job offer, but her family guilts her into going to work there despite her reluctance.