Hardy heroine (4)
I believe the answer is:
tess
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">hardy heroine</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(in Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy novel)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for tess that I've seen before include "Hardy's pure woman" , "Thomas Hardy girl" , "Lady" , "Hardy female" , "'Justice' finally done on her (Hardy)" .)