06-04-苔丝 [38]
of marrying， but even if he asked me， I'd refuse him， as I'd refuse any man．’
‘Oh why？’they asked．
‘I cannot marry！ But I don't think he will choose any of you．
So the girls remained friends． They all shared each other's secret． The air in their bedroom was full of their hopeless passion． There was a flame burning the inside of their hearts out． But because they had no hope， they were not jealous of each other．They had even heard that Angel's family were planning for him to marry a neighbour's daughter． Tess no longer attached any importance to Clare's interest in her．It was a passing summer attraction， nothing more．
The heat grew steadily greater． In this stormy atmosphere even a passing attraction would deepen into love． Everything in nature was ready for love．Clare became gradually more passionately in love with the soft and silent Tess． The fields were dry． Waggons threw up clouds of dust on the road． Cows jumped over gates， chased by flies． Dairyman Crick's sleeves were rolled up from Monday to Saturday， and the milkers milked in the fields for coolness．
On one of these afternoons Tess and Angel were milking near each other． Tess used to rest her head on the cow's body，her eyes fixed on a distant field． The sun shone on the beautiful lines of the face． She did not know that Clare had followed her round and sat watching her． How very lovable her face was to him． He had never seen such beautiful lips and teeth， like roses filled with snow．
Suddenly Clare jumped up， leaving his bucket to be kicked over by the cow， went quickly towards her， and， kneeling down beside her， took her in his arms． Tess let herself relax in his arms in a moment of joyful surprise． He was on the point of kissing that tempting mouth， but stopped himself．
‘Forgive me， Tess dear！’he whispered．‘I ought to have asked．I love you， Tess really！’
Tess tried to free herself and her eyes began to fill with tears．
‘Why are you crying， my darling？’he asked．
‘Oh I don't know！’ she murmured， trying to pull away．
‘Well， I've shown my feeling at last， Tess，’he said with a curious sigh， showing that his heart had overcome his reason．‘I do love you dearly and truly． But I shall go no further now．I have surprised you．’
She freed herself and they went on milking． Nobody had noticed， and when Dairyman Crick came round there was no sign to show that there was any connection between them． Yet something had happened which was to change their whole world． As a practical man， the dairyman might laugh at love，but love has a habit of changing people's lives．It is a force to be respected．
■ 11
到了7月，天气非常炎热。悬浮在平坦的山谷中的大气就像麻醉剂一般，笼罩着奶场的人们、奶牛和树木。这是挤完奶后的一个星期天的早晨。苔丝和另外三个姑娘急匆匆地换上衣服，准备到梅尔斯托克教堂去，那儿距塔尔勃塞有三四英里远。前一天刚下过很大的暴雨，今天却阳光明媚，空气温和清新。当姑娘们走到通向梅尔斯托克那条路的最低的一段时，发现这一段路被洪水淹没了。平时穿着工作服和靴子，她们走过去就行了。但今天她们穿着做礼拜才穿的白袜子和薄鞋子，她们可不想把它们都毁了。还有一英里路，教堂的钟声已经响了。
突然，她们看到安吉尔·克莱尔正朝这边走近。他远远就看见她们了，是过来帮助她们的，特别是她们中的某一个。
“我把你们都抱过水去，你们所有人。”他开口提供帮助。四个人的脸不约而同地全红了，好像心有灵犀。
“现在，玛丽安，用你的手臂抱住我的肩膀，抱紧点！”然后安吉尔抱起她走了。下一个是伊茨·休爱特。她激动得嘴唇都干了。然后安吉尔又回
‘Oh why？’they asked．
‘I cannot marry！ But I don't think he will choose any of you．
So the girls remained friends． They all shared each other's secret． The air in their bedroom was full of their hopeless passion． There was a flame burning the inside of their hearts out． But because they had no hope， they were not jealous of each other．They had even heard that Angel's family were planning for him to marry a neighbour's daughter． Tess no longer attached any importance to Clare's interest in her．It was a passing summer attraction， nothing more．
The heat grew steadily greater． In this stormy atmosphere even a passing attraction would deepen into love． Everything in nature was ready for love．Clare became gradually more passionately in love with the soft and silent Tess． The fields were dry． Waggons threw up clouds of dust on the road． Cows jumped over gates， chased by flies． Dairyman Crick's sleeves were rolled up from Monday to Saturday， and the milkers milked in the fields for coolness．
On one of these afternoons Tess and Angel were milking near each other． Tess used to rest her head on the cow's body，her eyes fixed on a distant field． The sun shone on the beautiful lines of the face． She did not know that Clare had followed her round and sat watching her． How very lovable her face was to him． He had never seen such beautiful lips and teeth， like roses filled with snow．
Suddenly Clare jumped up， leaving his bucket to be kicked over by the cow， went quickly towards her， and， kneeling down beside her， took her in his arms． Tess let herself relax in his arms in a moment of joyful surprise． He was on the point of kissing that tempting mouth， but stopped himself．
‘Forgive me， Tess dear！’he whispered．‘I ought to have asked．I love you， Tess really！’
Tess tried to free herself and her eyes began to fill with tears．
‘Why are you crying， my darling？’he asked．
‘Oh I don't know！’ she murmured， trying to pull away．
‘Well， I've shown my feeling at last， Tess，’he said with a curious sigh， showing that his heart had overcome his reason．‘I do love you dearly and truly． But I shall go no further now．I have surprised you．’
She freed herself and they went on milking． Nobody had noticed， and when Dairyman Crick came round there was no sign to show that there was any connection between them． Yet something had happened which was to change their whole world． As a practical man， the dairyman might laugh at love，but love has a habit of changing people's lives．It is a force to be respected．
■ 11
到了7月，天气非常炎热。悬浮在平坦的山谷中的大气就像麻醉剂一般，笼罩着奶场的人们、奶牛和树木。这是挤完奶后的一个星期天的早晨。苔丝和另外三个姑娘急匆匆地换上衣服，准备到梅尔斯托克教堂去，那儿距塔尔勃塞有三四英里远。前一天刚下过很大的暴雨，今天却阳光明媚，空气温和清新。当姑娘们走到通向梅尔斯托克那条路的最低的一段时，发现这一段路被洪水淹没了。平时穿着工作服和靴子，她们走过去就行了。但今天她们穿着做礼拜才穿的白袜子和薄鞋子，她们可不想把它们都毁了。还有一英里路，教堂的钟声已经响了。
突然，她们看到安吉尔·克莱尔正朝这边走近。他远远就看见她们了，是过来帮助她们的，特别是她们中的某一个。
“我把你们都抱过水去，你们所有人。”他开口提供帮助。四个人的脸不约而同地全红了，好像心有灵犀。
“现在，玛丽安，用你的手臂抱住我的肩膀，抱紧点！”然后安吉尔抱起她走了。下一个是伊茨·休爱特。她激动得嘴唇都干了。然后安吉尔又回