When Tess arrived home the following afternoon a letter had already been received by her mother．It appeared to come from Mrs d’Urberville，and offered Tess work looking after chickens． Joan Durbeyfield was delighted．
第二天下午，没等苔丝回到家，她母亲就先收到了一封信。信像是德伯夫人写来的，她给苔丝提供了一份养鸡的差事。琼·德北非常高兴。

解析：appear 出现、显得；似乎、好像 文中的"appear"取“似乎、好像”的意思。
eg: Real returns also appear to be mixed.
实际收益似乎也是喜忧参半。

‘It's just a way of getting you there without raising your hopes．She's going to recognize you as family，I'm sure of it．’
“这是让你去他们那里，同时不要抱太大希望。我相信她一定会把你当做一家人看待的。”

解析：be sure of 确信、对……有把握
eg: I am sure of that the team will win the game.
我确信这支队伍会赢得这场比赛。

‘I would rather stay here with father and you，’said Tess，looking out of the window．
“我宁愿留在家里跟你和爸爸在一起。”苔丝看着窗外说。

解析：would rather 宁愿、宁可
eg: He said he would rather not tell his age.
他说他还是不告诉我年龄为好。

‘But why？’
“那又为什么？”

‘I'd rather not tell you， mother．I don't really know．’
“还是别对你说的好，妈妈，我也不太清楚。”

A few days later when Tess came back from looking for work， the children came running out and danced round her．
几天过后，当苔丝外出找工作回来时，孩子们都跑了出来，围着她手舞足蹈。

解析：look for 寻找
eg; He began to look for a new job immediately after he was fired.
他被解雇后立即开始寻找一份新工作。

‘The gentleman's been here！’they shouted.
“有位先生来过这儿！”他们嚷嚷道。