and beat her forehead as she saw what she had done

`You love me very, very much, Izz?' he suddenly asked. `I do - I have said I do! I loved you all the time we was at the dairy together!' `More than Tess?' She shook her head. `No,' she murmured, `not more than she.' `How's that?' `Because nobody could love 'ee more than Tess did!... . She would have laid down her life for 'ee. I could do no more.' Like the prophet on the top of Poor Izz Huett would fain have spoken perversely at such a moment, but the fascination exercised over her rougher nature by Tess's character compelled her to grace. Clare was silent; his heart had risen at these straightforward words from such an unexpected unimpeachable quarter. In his throat was something as if a sob had solidified there. His ears repeated, `She would have laid down her life for 'ee. I could do no more!' `Forget our idle talk, Izz,' he said, turning the horse's head suddenly. `I don't know what I've been saying! I will now drive you back to where your lane branches off.' `So much for honesty towards 'ee! O - how can I bear it - how can I - how can I!' Izz Huett burst into wild tears, and beat her forehead as she saw what she had done. `Do you regret that poor little act of justice to an absent one? O, Izz, don't spoil it by regret!' She stilled herself by degrees. `Very well, sir. Perhaps I didn't know what I was saying, either, wh - when I agreed to go! I wish - what cannot be!' `Because I have a loving wife already.' `Yes, yes! You have.' They reached the corner of the lane which they had passed half an hour earlier, and she hopped down. `Izz - please, please forget my momentary levity!' he cried. `It was so ill-considered, so ill-advised!' `Forget it? Never, never! O, it was no levity to me!'