There were signs that it was an exquisite relief to her to hear the impatient exclamation, though she had resolved so intrepidly to let generosity make one bid against herself. That was now done, and she had not the power to attempt self-immolation a second time then. They were joined by a milker from one of the cottages, and no more was said on that which concerned them so deeply. But Tess knew that this day would decide it.
苔丝虽然鼓足勇气要牺牲自己成全别人，但是当她听见他的不耐烦的喊声，脸上也不禁露出一种欢畅的表情来。她既然已经表现过要成全别人的意思，那么现在她就没有力量第二次作出自我牺牲了。这时从小屋里走出来一个挤奶工人，和他们在一块儿了，因此他们共同关心的问题就没有再谈。但是苔丝知道，这件事在今天就要决定了。

In the afternoon several of the dairyman's household and assistants went down to the meads as usual, a long way from the dairy, where many of the cows were milked without being driven home. The supply was getting less as the animals advanced in calf, and the supernumerary milkers of the lush green season had been dismissed.
下午，奶牛场的几个工人加上几个帮工，像往常一样一起来到老远的草场上，有许多奶牛没有被赶回家去，就在那儿挤奶。随着母牛腹中的牛犊的长大，牛奶也就出得越来越少了，在草场旺季时雇佣的过多的工人也就被辞退了。

The work progressed leisurely. Each pailful was poured into tall cans that stood in a large spring-waggon which had been brought upon the scene; and when they were milked the cows trailed away.
工作在从容不迫地进行着。有一辆大车赶到了草场上，上面装着许多高大的铁罐，木桶里挤满了牛奶，就一桶桶倒进车上的大铁罐里；奶牛挤过奶以后，也就自个儿走掉了。

Dairyman Crick, who was there with the rest, his wrapper gleaming miraculously white against a leaden evening sky, suddenly looked at his heavy watch.
奶牛场的克里克老板和其他的人呆在一起，在铅灰色的暮色的映衬下，他身上的围裙闪着白色的光，突然，他掏出他那块沉甸甸的怀表看了看。

'Why, 'tis later than I thought,' he said. 'Begad! We shan't be soon enough with this milk at the station, if we don't mind. There's no time to-day to take it home and mix it with the bulk afore sending off. It must go to station straight from here. Who'll drive it across?'
“唉呀，没有想到这样晚了，”他说。“糟啦！再不赶快就来不及送到车站了。今天送走牛奶的时间是不多了，也不能把牛奶拉回家和其它的牛奶混在一起了。牛奶只有从这儿直接送到车站啦。谁把牛奶送去呢？”

Mr Clare volunteered to do so, though it was none of his business, asking Tess to accompany him. The evening, though sunless, had been warm and muggy for the season, and Tess had come out with her milkinghood only, naked-armed and jacketless; certainly not dressed for a drive. She therefore replied by glancing over her scant habiliments; but Clare gently urged her. She assented by relinquishing her pall and stool to the dairyman to take home; and mounted the spring-waggon beside Clare.
送牛奶虽然不是克莱尔先生份内的事，但是他自愿去送牛奶，还请苔丝陪他一块儿去。傍晚虽然没有太阳，但是天气既闷热又潮湿，苔丝出门时只穿着挤奶的裙子，没有穿外套，露着胳膊，这身穿着的确不是为了赶大车而穿上的。因此，她打量了一眼身上的穿着，算是回答；不过克莱尔用温柔的目光鼓励她。她把牛奶桶和凳子交给奶牛场老板带回家去，算是答应了去送牛奶；然后她就上了大车，坐在克莱尔的身边。