【导读】 《德伯家的苔丝》是英国作家托马斯·哈代最优秀的长篇小说。女主人公苔丝生于贫苦家庭，进入社会后又屡遭不幸，最后因杀死恶人而被处绞刑。《德伯家的苔丝》是一部悲剧作品。
Tess of the D'urbervilles(excerpt)
He looked a little disturbed and worn，she thought.But he said not a word to her about her revelation，even when they were alone.Could he have had it？Unless he began the subject she felt that she could say nothing.So the day passed，and it was evident that whatever he thought he meant to keep to himself.Yet he was frank and affectionate as before.Could it be that her doubts were childish？That he forgave her；that he loved her for what she was，just as she was，and smiled at her disquiet as at a foolish nightmare？Had he really received her note？She glanced into his room，and could see nothing of it.It might be that he forgave her.But even if he had not received it she had a sudden enthusiastic trust that he surely would forgive her.
Every morning and night he was the same，and thus New Year's Eve broke—the weddingday.
The lovers did not rise at milkingtime，having through the whole of this last week of their sojourn at the dairy been accorded something of the position of guests，Tess being honoured with a room of her own.When they arrived downstairs at breakfasttime they were surprised to see what effects had been produced in the large kitchen for their glory since they had last beheld it.At some unnatural hour of the morning the dairyman had caused the yawning chimneycorner to be whitened，and the brick hearth reddened，and a blazing yellow damask blower to be hung across the arch in place of the old grimy blue cotton one with a black sprig pattern which had formerly done duty here.This renovated aspect of what was the focus indeed of the room on a dull winter morning，threw a smiling demeanour over the whole apartment.
