牛津书虫系列《苔丝》Chapter4 附中英双语文本

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When Tess arrived home the following afternoon a letter had already been received by her mother．It appeared to come from Mrs d’Urberville，and offered Tess work looking after chickens． Joan Durbeyfield was delighted．
第二天下午，没等苔丝回到家，她母亲就先收到了一封信。信像是德伯夫人写来的，她给苔丝提供了一份养鸡的差事。琼·德北非常高兴。
‘It's just a way of getting you there without raising your hopes．She's going to recognize you as family，I'm sure of it．’
“这是让你去他们那里，同时不要抱太大希望。我相信她一定会把你当做一家人看待的。”
‘I would rather stay here with father and you，’said Tess，looking out of the window．
“我宁愿留在家里跟你和爸爸在一起。”苔丝看着窗外说。
‘But why？’
“那又为什么？”
‘I'd rather not tell you， mother．I don't really know．’
“还是别对你说的好，妈妈，我也不太清楚。”
A few days later when Tess came back from looking for work， the children came running out and danced round her．
几天过后，当苔丝外出找工作回来时，孩子们都跑了出来，围着她手舞足蹈。
‘The gentleman's been here！’they shouted．
“有位先生来过这儿！”他们嚷嚷道。
Joan was full of smiles． Mrs d’Urberville's son had called，and asked if Tess could come or not．
琼笑意盎然。德伯夫人的儿子来拜访过，他问苔丝还能否去他那儿。
‘He's a very handsome man！’said Mrs Durbeyfield．
“他很英俊！”德北夫人说。
‘I don't think so，’said Tess coldly．‘I'll think it over．’She left the room．
“我可不觉得。”苔丝冷漠地说，“我会仔细考虑的。”说完，她离开了房间。
‘He's in love with her， you can see that，’said Mrs Durbeyfield to her husband．‘No doubt he'll marry her and she'll be a fine lady．’
“看得出来，他爱上她了。”德北夫人对她丈夫说，“毫无疑问，他会跟她结婚的，她就快是一个贵妇人啦。”
John Durbeyfield had more pride in his new-found blood than energy or health．‘That's what young Mr d’Urberville is trying to do！Improve his blood by marrying into the old line！’
与体力或健康相比，约翰·德北更为他那新发现的血统感到自豪。“跟古老的家族联姻，使自己的血统变得更高贵，这就是年轻的德伯先生想要做的事！”
Persuaded by her mother and the children，Tess finally agreed to go．Mrs Durbeyfield secretly made wedding plans．Then the day came when Tess， wearing her best Sunday clothes on her mother's orders，said goodbye to her family．
经过母亲和孩子们的劝说，苔丝终于决定去了。德北夫人则暗自筹划着婚礼。到了要走的那天，苔丝依照母亲的吩咐穿上了最好的节日礼服，跟家人告别了。
‘Goodbye，my girl，’said Sir John，waking from a short sleep．‘Tell young d’Urberville I'll sell him the title，yes，sell it，at a reasonable price．’
“再见，我的孩子。”约翰爵士说道，他刚刚睡了一小觉。“告诉年轻的德伯，我愿意把爵士头衔卖给他。对，卖给他，如果价钱合理的话。”
‘Not for less than a thousand pounds！’cried Lady Durbeyfield．
“少于一千英镑就不卖！”德北夫人喊道。
‘No，tell him he can have it for a hundred！No，fifty， no—twenty！Yes，twenty pounds，that's the lowest．Family honour is family honour and I won't take any less！’
“不，告诉他一百也行！不，五十，不，二十！对，二十英镑是最低价了。家族荣誉到底是家族荣誉，再少我就不干了！”
Tess felt like crying but turned quickly and went out．Her mother went with her to the edge of the village．There she stopped and stood waving goodbye，and watched her daughter walking away into the distance． A waggon came to take her bags，and then a fashionable little carriage appeared．It was driven by a well-dressed young man smoking a cigar．After a moment's hesitation，Tess stepped in．
苔丝直觉得想哭，但她还是迅速转身走了。她母亲陪她走到了村头。在那儿停住，挥手道别后，母亲就看着女儿渐渐走远了。一辆货车驶过来，装上了苔丝的行李，然后又有一辆时髦的小马车出现在她面前。驾车的是一个抽着雪茄、穿着讲究的年轻人。苔丝犹豫了一下，然后上了车。
Joan Durbeyfield，watching，wondered for the first time if she had been right in encouraging Tess to go． That night she said to her husband，‘Perhaps I should have found out how the gentleman really feels about her．’
琼·德北瞪大了眼睛，头一次怀疑起她鼓励苔丝去到底正确与否。那天晚上，她对丈夫说：“也许我应该先弄清楚那位先生对她的真实感情才对。”