06-04-苔丝 [2]
into the tiny space．Their mother was doing the washing at the same time as putting the baby to sleep．Looking after so many children had aged Joan Durbeyfield， but she still showed some of her early prettiness，which Tess had inherited．
‘Let me help with the washing， mother，’said Tess gently．
‘Oh Tess，I'm glad you've come，’said her mother．‘There's something I must tell you．’
‘Is it anything to do with father making such a fool of himself this afternoon？’asked Tess，frowning．
‘That's all part of the excitement！They've discovered we're the oldest family in the whole county，going back a long way！And our real name is d’Urberville！Doesn't that make you proud！That's why your father rode home in the carriage，not because he'd been drinking， as people thought．’
‘I'm glad of that．Will it do us any good， mother？’
‘Oh yes！Great things may come of it．No doubt our noble relations will be arriving in their carriages as soon as they find out．’
‘Where is father now？’asked Tess suddenly．
Her mother did not answer directly．‘He saw the doctor today， you know．It's fat round the heart，he says．That's the cause of his illness． He might last ten years… might last ten months or days．’
Tess looked anxious．Her father， suddenly a great man， to die so soon！‘But where is father？’she asked firmly．
‘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．’
‘Oh my God！’cried Tess．‘He went to a public house！And you agreed to it， mother！’
‘No，I didn't，’said Mrs Durbeyfield crossly．‘I've been waiting for you to look after the children while I fetch him．’
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．
■ 处女
■ 1
5月末的一天傍晚，有个中年汉子正从夏斯顿回家到黑荒野山谷的马勒特村去。他双腿瘦弱，一路东倒西歪。他手挽一个盛鸡蛋用的空篮子，帽子又旧又破。走了一会儿，他遇见了一位骑匹灰马的老牧师。
“晚安。”挽着篮子的人说。
“晚安，约翰爵士，”牧师说道。
刚走出一两步，这人停了下来，转过身对牧师说：
“嗯，先生，上次赶集那天，大约也是这个时候，我们在这条路上碰到过的。当时我向您道声‘晚安’，您也和刚才一样回答说‘晚安，约翰爵士’。”
“我是那么说的，”牧师说道。
“而且更早以前还曾有过一回——将近一个月以前吧。”
“我也许是说过的。”
“那么您为什么要称呼我‘约翰爵士’呢？我只不过是约翰·德北呀。”
牧师拍马走近，略一犹豫，便解释道：“那是因为最近我发现了一些史实。我是特林厄姆牧师，历史学家。德北呀，难道你真的不知道自己是那古老而高贵的德伯家族的一支直系后裔吗？这个家族起始于培根·德伯爵士，他是在1066年随同征服者威廉国王从诺曼底来到英格兰的。”
“这事我以前可从没听说过，先生！”
“哟，这可是千真万确的。让我看看你的脸。没错，你有德伯家的鼻子和下巴。德伯家族拥有大片土地，而且数百年来效忠于国王。哦，对啦，你们家族中有过好多个约翰
‘Let me help with the washing， mother，’said Tess gently．
‘Oh Tess，I'm glad you've come，’said her mother．‘There's something I must tell you．’
‘Is it anything to do with father making such a fool of himself this afternoon？’asked Tess，frowning．
‘That's all part of the excitement！They've discovered we're the oldest family in the whole county，going back a long way！And our real name is d’Urberville！Doesn't that make you proud！That's why your father rode home in the carriage，not because he'd been drinking， as people thought．’
‘I'm glad of that．Will it do us any good， mother？’
‘Oh yes！Great things may come of it．No doubt our noble relations will be arriving in their carriages as soon as they find out．’
‘Where is father now？’asked Tess suddenly．
Her mother did not answer directly．‘He saw the doctor today， you know．It's fat round the heart，he says．That's the cause of his illness． He might last ten years… might last ten months or days．’
Tess looked anxious．Her father， suddenly a great man， to die so soon！‘But where is father？’she asked firmly．
‘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．’
‘Oh my God！’cried Tess．‘He went to a public house！And you agreed to it， mother！’
‘No，I didn't，’said Mrs Durbeyfield crossly．‘I've been waiting for you to look after the children while I fetch him．’
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．
■ 处女
■ 1
5月末的一天傍晚，有个中年汉子正从夏斯顿回家到黑荒野山谷的马勒特村去。他双腿瘦弱，一路东倒西歪。他手挽一个盛鸡蛋用的空篮子，帽子又旧又破。走了一会儿，他遇见了一位骑匹灰马的老牧师。
“晚安。”挽着篮子的人说。
“晚安，约翰爵士，”牧师说道。
刚走出一两步，这人停了下来，转过身对牧师说：
“嗯，先生，上次赶集那天，大约也是这个时候，我们在这条路上碰到过的。当时我向您道声‘晚安’，您也和刚才一样回答说‘晚安，约翰爵士’。”
“我是那么说的，”牧师说道。
“而且更早以前还曾有过一回——将近一个月以前吧。”
“我也许是说过的。”
“那么您为什么要称呼我‘约翰爵士’呢？我只不过是约翰·德北呀。”
牧师拍马走近，略一犹豫，便解释道：“那是因为最近我发现了一些史实。我是特林厄姆牧师，历史学家。德北呀，难道你真的不知道自己是那古老而高贵的德伯家族的一支直系后裔吗？这个家族起始于培根·德伯爵士，他是在1066年随同征服者威廉国王从诺曼底来到英格兰的。”
“这事我以前可从没听说过，先生！”
“哟，这可是千真万确的。让我看看你的脸。没错，你有德伯家的鼻子和下巴。德伯家族拥有大片土地，而且数百年来效忠于国王。哦，对啦，你们家族中有过好多个约翰