牛津书虫系列《苔丝》Chapter1 附中英双语文本

母亲没有直接回答：“你知道他今天去看医生了。说病因是心脏周围堆了脂肪。也许他能再活十年……再活十个月或者十天。”
Tess looked anxious．Her father， suddenly a great man， to die so soon！‘But where is father？’she asked firmly．
苔丝愁容满面。她的父亲，一个突然间变得如此伟大的人物，会这么快就死去！“但爸爸在哪儿啊？”她加重语气问道。
‘Now don't you get angry！’said Mrs Durbeyfield．‘The poor man was feeling so weak after the news that he went to Rolliver's．He needs to build up his strength to deliver the beehives tomorrow，remember．’
“嗯，你可别生气，”德北夫人说，“这可怜的人儿在听说了那则特大消息后，就浑身酥软啦，他只好去了罗里弗酒店。他需要积蓄点儿力气，要知道，明早他还得赶运那些蜂箱呢。”
‘Oh my God！’cried Tess．‘He went to a public house！And you agreed to it， mother！’
“哦，天哪！”苔丝叫了起来，“他上酒店了！而你却同意了，妈！”
‘No，I didn't，’said Mrs Durbeyfield crossly．‘I've been waiting for you to look after the children while I fetch him．’
“不，我没有同意。”德北夫人生气地说。“我一直在等着你回来照看孩子们，这样我就可以去接他了。”
Tess knew that her mother greatly looked forwad to these trips to Rolliver's．There she could sit by her husband's side among the beer-drinkers，and forget that the children existed．It was one of the few bright moments in her hardworking life．Mrs Durbeyfield went out，and Tess was left with the children．They were very young，and totally dependent on the Durbeyfield couple：six helpless creatures who had not asked to be born at all，much less to be part of the irresponsible Durbeyfield family．
苔丝知道母亲非常希望到罗里弗酒店去。在那儿，她可以挨着丈夫坐在一群喝啤酒的人当中，忘掉孩子们的存在。这是她繁重的生活中难得的一小段幸福时光。德北夫人出去了，苔丝留下来与弟弟妹妹们在一起。他们都还这么小，还全得依靠德北夫妇：六个无助的小生命，他们自己并没有要求降临到这个世界上，更没有想要成为（这样）不能尽责的德北家庭中的成员。