專四晨讀美文：Tess of the d'Vrbervilles

Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Tess wrote a most touching and urgent letter
to her mother the very next day,
and by the end of the week a response to her communication
arrived in Joan Durbeyfield's wandering last-century hand.
Dear Tess,
I write these few lines hoping they will find you well,
as they leave me at present, thank God for it.
Dear Tess, we are all glad to hear
that you are going really to be married soon.
But with respect to your question, Tess,
I say between ourselves, quite private but very strong,
that on no account
do you say a word of your bygone trouble to him.
I did not tell everything to your Father,
he being so proud on account of his respectability,
which, perhaps, your intended is the same.
Many a woman-some of the highest in the land-
have had a Trouble in their time;
and why should you trumpet yours
when others don't trumpet theirs?
No girl would be such a fool, especially as it is so long ago,
and not your fault at all.
I shall answer the same if you ask me fifty times.
Besides, you must bear in mind that,
knowing it to be your childish nature
to tell all that's in your heart-so simple!-
I made you promise me never to let it out by word or deed,
having your welfare in my mind;
and you most solemnly did promise it going from this door.
I have not named either that question
or your coming marriage to your Father,
as he would blab it everywhere, poor simple man.
Dear Tess, keep up your spirits,
and we mean to send you a hogshead of cyder
for your wedding, knowing there is not much in your parts,
and thin sour stuff what there is.
So no more at present, and with kind love to your young man.
From your affectte. Mother, J. DURBEYFIELD
"O mother, mother!" murmured Tess.
She was recognizing how light was the touch of events
the most oppressive upon Mrs Durbeyfield's elastic spirit.
Her mother did not see life as Tess saw it.
That haunting episode of bygone days
was to her mother but a passing accident.
But perhaps her mother was right
as to the course to be followed,
whatever she might be in her reasons.
Silence seemed, on the face of it,
best for her adored one's happiness: silence it should be.