“I- I… am a not a Durbeyfield, but a d’Urberville- a descendant of the same family as those who owned the old house we passed. And- we are all gone to nothing!” p.206
This is a quotation from Phase the Fourth. It is a confession from Tess to Angel, telling him that she is related to the ancient family of the d’Urbervilles. She thinks that Angel will be mad because she lied to him about her family, but it turns out that he is delighted. This means that he would be related to a noble family, therefore his parents would be as well, making them happy. Tess is surprised to hear this. I think that this is significant to the novel because this makes Angel want to marry Tess even more, therefore hurrying the marriage.