phase the first >> ten

The church clock struck, when suddenly the student said that he must leave - he had been forgetting himself - he had to join his companions. As he fell out of the dance his eyes lighted on Tess Durbeyfield, whose large orbs wore, to tell the truth, the faintest aspect of reproach that he had not chosen her. He, too, was sorry then that, owing to her backwards, he had not observed her; and with that in his mind he left the pasture.

[Remind you of something?]
[I swear I didn't read this before I wrote one]

[from Tess Of The D'Urbervilles]