06-04-苔丝 [72]
说道,他发现了苔丝放在树后的靴子。
“我觉得,这是很不错的步行靴子。”钱特小姐说道,“这样就扔了,多差劲啊!把它们交给我吧。拿去送给穷人,会有人喜欢的。”
苔丝匆匆地超过了他们,泪水从她脸上潸潸滚下。她继续尽可能快地走着,离开了爱敏斯特。她是多么不走运啊,碰见的偏偏会是两个儿子,而不是父亲。安吉尔的父母会立即打心底里接受孤苦可怜的苔丝,就像他们对每一个迷失的人做的那样,而不会去考虑他的出身、学识或财富。
在返回弗林特石灰谷的15英里路中,她变得越来越疲惫沮丧,那儿只有繁重的活儿等着她干。可是在半路上,她注意到有一群人正在听一个传道士说着什么。她停下脚步,也去听了一会儿。这个传道士正热情高涨地讲述他多年来曾是如何地品行不端,而一个牧师又是怎样地给他指出来:这让他渐渐地从邪恶中转变过来。但是他的声音比他的讲道更让苔丝震惊。她从人群后绕过去看他的脸,午后的阳光充沛地照在他身上,她认出来了,他是亚历克·德伯。
■ A Change Man
■ 17
This was the first time she had seen or heard of d’Urberville since she had left Trantridge.And although he stood there openly as a preacher,as a religious man,she still felt afraid of him.He had changed his clothes,his hair,his moustache and his expression,but could she really believe that he had changed his most secret thoughts and beliefs?
As soon as she recovered from her surprise,she moved away so that he would not notice her.But he suddenly caught sight of her,and the effect on him was electric.His enthusiasm faded,his voice hesitated,his lips trembled,his eyes dropped in confusion.Tess walked rapidly away along the road.
However,as she walked she felt he must be looking at her back as she walked away.And now she knew she could never escape the past,as she had hoped.Reminders of her past would surround her until she died.As she walked uphill she heard footsteps behind her,and,turning,saw that it was the one person in the whole world she did not want to meet this side of the grave.
‘Tess!’he said.‘I'm Alec d’Urberville!’
‘I see you are,’she said coldly.They walked on together.
‘You may wonder why I'm following you.Well,I feel you are the person I would most like to save from hell.So I have come to do that.’
‘Have you saved yourself?’Tess asked bitterly.
‘God has done it all,not me!I must tell you how I came to believe in Him.Have you ever heard of the parson of Emminster,old Mr Clare?A very strict,sincere man.’
‘I have,’said Tess.
‘Well,he came to Trantridge once and tried to show me how wicked my life was.I insulted him at the time.But later my mother died,and somehow I began to think about what old Mr Clare said.Since then my one desire has been to help others to understand God too…’
‘Don't go on!’cried Tess.‘I can't believe in such a sudden change!I almost hate you for talking to me like this, when you know how you've ruined my life!You enjoy yourself for a while and then you make sure of your place in heaven!’As she spoke she looked him full in the face with her great beautiful eyes.
‘Don't look at me like that!’said Alec.‘Your eyes remind me of—well,women's faces have too much power over me.Don't look at me!It might be dangerous for you!’
Eventually they came to a crossroads,where a strange stone stood.It was a lonely,unfriendly place,where people did not like to stay for long.Alec stopped here.
‘I must go to the right here.I'm preaching at six this evening.Tell me,how has your life been since we last met?’
Tess told him about the baby.Alec was shocked.
‘
“我觉得,这是很不错的步行靴子。”钱特小姐说道,“这样就扔了,多差劲啊!把它们交给我吧。拿去送给穷人,会有人喜欢的。”
苔丝匆匆地超过了他们,泪水从她脸上潸潸滚下。她继续尽可能快地走着,离开了爱敏斯特。她是多么不走运啊,碰见的偏偏会是两个儿子,而不是父亲。安吉尔的父母会立即打心底里接受孤苦可怜的苔丝,就像他们对每一个迷失的人做的那样,而不会去考虑他的出身、学识或财富。
在返回弗林特石灰谷的15英里路中,她变得越来越疲惫沮丧,那儿只有繁重的活儿等着她干。可是在半路上,她注意到有一群人正在听一个传道士说着什么。她停下脚步,也去听了一会儿。这个传道士正热情高涨地讲述他多年来曾是如何地品行不端,而一个牧师又是怎样地给他指出来:这让他渐渐地从邪恶中转变过来。但是他的声音比他的讲道更让苔丝震惊。她从人群后绕过去看他的脸,午后的阳光充沛地照在他身上,她认出来了,他是亚历克·德伯。
■ A Change Man
■ 17
This was the first time she had seen or heard of d’Urberville since she had left Trantridge.And although he stood there openly as a preacher,as a religious man,she still felt afraid of him.He had changed his clothes,his hair,his moustache and his expression,but could she really believe that he had changed his most secret thoughts and beliefs?
As soon as she recovered from her surprise,she moved away so that he would not notice her.But he suddenly caught sight of her,and the effect on him was electric.His enthusiasm faded,his voice hesitated,his lips trembled,his eyes dropped in confusion.Tess walked rapidly away along the road.
However,as she walked she felt he must be looking at her back as she walked away.And now she knew she could never escape the past,as she had hoped.Reminders of her past would surround her until she died.As she walked uphill she heard footsteps behind her,and,turning,saw that it was the one person in the whole world she did not want to meet this side of the grave.
‘Tess!’he said.‘I'm Alec d’Urberville!’
‘I see you are,’she said coldly.They walked on together.
‘You may wonder why I'm following you.Well,I feel you are the person I would most like to save from hell.So I have come to do that.’
‘Have you saved yourself?’Tess asked bitterly.
‘God has done it all,not me!I must tell you how I came to believe in Him.Have you ever heard of the parson of Emminster,old Mr Clare?A very strict,sincere man.’
‘I have,’said Tess.
‘Well,he came to Trantridge once and tried to show me how wicked my life was.I insulted him at the time.But later my mother died,and somehow I began to think about what old Mr Clare said.Since then my one desire has been to help others to understand God too…’
‘Don't go on!’cried Tess.‘I can't believe in such a sudden change!I almost hate you for talking to me like this, when you know how you've ruined my life!You enjoy yourself for a while and then you make sure of your place in heaven!’As she spoke she looked him full in the face with her great beautiful eyes.
‘Don't look at me like that!’said Alec.‘Your eyes remind me of—well,women's faces have too much power over me.Don't look at me!It might be dangerous for you!’
Eventually they came to a crossroads,where a strange stone stood.It was a lonely,unfriendly place,where people did not like to stay for long.Alec stopped here.
‘I must go to the right here.I'm preaching at six this evening.Tell me,how has your life been since we last met?’
Tess told him about the baby.Alec was shocked.
‘