It reminded Tess of a Confirmation, in which Mrs d'Urberville was the bishop, the fowls the young people presented, and herself and the maidservant the parson and curate of the parish bringing them up. At the end of the ceremony Mrs d'Urberville abruptly asked Tess, wrinkling and twitching her face into undulations, 'Can you whistle?'
这使苔丝想起了一种坚信礼仪式②,在这种仪式里,德贝维尔夫人就是主教,那些鸡就是受礼的一群小孩子,而她自己和那个女仆就是把它们带去受礼的牧师和副牧师。仪式结束时,德贝维尔夫人把脸皱起来,扭动出一脸的折子,突然问苔丝:“你会吹口哨吧?”

'Whistle, Ma'am?'
“吹口哨,夫人?”

'Yes, whistle tunes.'
“是的,吹口哨。”

Tess could whistle like most other country girls, though the accomplishment was one which she did not care to profess in genteel company. However, she blandly admitted that such was the fact.
苔丝同大多数乡下姑娘一样会吹口哨,虽然她在体面人面前不愿承认会这门技艺。但是,她还是满不在乎地承认了她是会吹口哨的。

'Then you will have to practise it every day. I had a lad who did it very well, but he has left. I want you to whistle to my bullfinches; as I cannot see them I like to hear them, and we teach 'em airs that way. Tell her where the cages are, Elizabeth. You must begin tomorrow, or they will go back in their piping. They have been neglected these several days.'
“那么你每天都得吹口哨。从前我这儿有个小伙子口哨吹得好,不过他已经走了。我要你对着我的红腹灰雀吹口哨;因为我看不见鸟儿,所以我喜欢听鸟儿唱歌,我们就是用那种方法教鸟儿唱歌的。伊丽莎白,告诉她鸟笼子在什么地方。从明天开始你就要吹口哨,不然的话,它们会唱的就要忘啦。这几天来,已经没有人教它们了。”

'Mr d'Urberville whistled to 'em this morning, ma'am,' said Elizabeth.
“今天早晨德贝维尔先生向它们吹口哨来着,夫人,”伊丽莎白说。

'He! Pooh!'
“他!呸!”

The old lady's face creased into furrows of repugnance, and she made no further reply.
老夫人的脸上堆起了许多皱纹,表示她的厌恶,不再说别的话了。

Thus the reception of Tess by her fancied kinswoman terminated, and the birds were taken back to their quarters. The girl's surprise at Mrs d'Urberville's manner was not great; for since seeing the size of the house she had expected no more. But she was far from being aware that the old lady had never heard a word of the so-called kinship. She gathered that no great affection flowed between the blind woman and her son. But in that, too, she was mistaken. Mrs d'Urberville was not the first mother compelled to love her offspring resentfully, and to be bitterly fond.
苔丝想象中的亲戚对她的接见就这样结束了,那些鸡也被送回到它们的院子里。对德贝维尔夫人的态度,苔丝并不怎样感到奇怪;因为自从见到了这座庄园的规模以后,她就没有抱什么奢望。但是她一点儿也不知道,关于所谓的亲戚的事,老夫人却没有听说过一个字。她猜想那个瞎眼的老妇人和她的儿子之间没有什么感情交流。不过关于这一点,她也猜猎了。天下带着怨恨爱孩子和带着伤心疼孩子的母亲,德贝维尔夫人并不是第一个。

①斯特拉特(Strut),意为趾高气扬、神气活现。

②坚信礼(Confirmation),一种基督教仪式。根据基督教教义,孩子在一个月时受洗礼,十三岁时受坚信礼。孩子只有被施坚信礼后,才能成为教会正式教徒。