'Don't speak so absurdly - I wish not to hear it. It is nonsense to have such thoughts in this kind of case, which is rather one for satirical laughter than for tragedy. You don't in the least understand the quality of the mishap. It would be viewed in the light of a joke by nine-tenths of the world if it were known. Please oblige me by returning to the house, and going to bed.'
“不要说这些荒唐话了——我不想听这个。在这种情形里有这种想法真是胡闹,它不是悲剧的主题,而只是讽刺嘲笑的材料。这场不幸的性质我看你是一点儿也没有明白。要是让人知道了,十个人里头有九个会感到好笑。请你听我的话,回屋睡觉去吧。”

'I will,' said she dutifully.
“好吧!”她顺从地说。

They had rambled round by a road which led to the well-known ruins of the Cistercian abbey behind the mill, the latter having, in centuries past, been attached to the monastic establishment. The mill still worked on, food being a perennial necessity; the abbey had perished, creeds being transient. One continually sees the ministration of the temporary outlasting the ministration of the eternal. Their walk having been circuitous they were still not far from the house, and in obeying his direction she only had to reach the large stone bridge across the main river, and follow the road for a few yards. When she got back everything remained as she had left it, the fire being still burning. She did not stay downstairs for more than a minute, but proceeded to her chamber, whither the luggage had been taken. Here she sat down on the edge of the bed, looking blankly around, and presently began to undress. In removing the light towards the bedstead its rays fell upon the tester of white dimity; something was hanging beneath it, and she lifted the candle to see what it was. A bough of mistletoe. Angel had put it there; she knew that in an instant. This was the explanation of that mysterious parcel which it had been so difficult to pack and bring; whose contents he would not explain to her, saying that time would soon show her the purpose thereof. In his zest and his gaiety he had hung it there. How foolish and inopportune that mistletoe looked now.
他们从那条路上走过去,那条路通向磨坊后面的西斯特教团寺庙的遗迹,在过去的几百年里,那个磨坊一直是寺庙的一部分产业。磨坊还在不断地生产,因为食物是永远需要的;寺庙已经消失了,信仰也成了过眼烟云。我们不断地看到,为短暂的需要服务的东西很长久,而为永久的需要服务的东西却很短暂。他们那天是绕着圈子走的,所以始终离他们的屋子不远,她听从了他的指挥回去睡觉,只要走过那条河上的大石桥,再沿着那条路向前走几码就到了。她回到屋里的时候,炉火还在继续燃着,屋里的一切都还和她离开时一样。她在楼下没有呆上一分钟,就上楼进了自己的房间,她的行李早已经拿进去了。在房间里,她坐在床沿上,茫然地看看四周,就立刻动手脱衣服。她把蜡烛拿到床头,烛光照在白布的帐子顶上,看见里面挂着什么东西,就把蜡烛举起来,想看看是什么。是一束槲寄生。那是安琪尔挂在那儿的;她立刻就心里明白了。这就是原来那个不好包装也不好携带的包裹了;那个包裹里包的是什么东西,安琪尔没有向她解释,只是说到时候她就知道了。那是在他感情热烈、心里快活的时候挂在那儿的。可是那束槲寄生现在看上去,是多么愚蠢、多么不合时宜啊。

Having nothing more to fear, having scarce anything to hope, for that he would relent there seemed no promise whatever, she lay down dully. When sorrow ceases to be speculative sleep sees her opportunity. Among so many happier moods which forbid repose this was a mood which welcomed it, and in a few minutes the lonely Tess forgot existence, surrounded by the aromatic illness of the chamber that had once, possibly, been the bride-chamber of her own ancestry. Later on that night Clare also retraced his steps to the house. Entering softly to the sitting-room he obtained a light, and with the manner of one who had considered his course he spread his rugs upon the old horse-hair sofa which stood there, and roughly shaped it to a sleeping-couch. Before lying down he crept shoeless upstairs, and listened at the door of her apartment. Her measured breathing told that she was sleeping profoundly.
他似乎无论如何也不会宽恕她了,既然已经没有什么可怕的了,也没有什么可盼的了,所以她就感觉迟钝地睡下了。一个人在悲伤停止的时候,睡眠就会乘虚而入。许多时候,由于心情快活而不能入睡,现在她的心情反而容易睡着。不一会儿,孤独的苔丝就进入梦乡了,房间里静悄悄的,弥漫着香气,很有可能,这个房间从前还做过她的祖先的洞房呢。那天深夜,克莱尔也沿着原路回了屋子。他轻轻地走进客厅,点上蜡烛,从他的态度上看出来,他已经打定了主意,房间里有一张旧马鬃沙发,他把几床毯子铺在上面,简单地为自己做了一个睡觉的小床。在他睡下之前,他赤着脚走到楼上,在苔丝房间的门口听了听。她均匀的呼吸表明,她已经完全睡熟了。