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，沒等苔絲回到家，她母親就先收到了一封信。信像是德伯夫人寫來的，她給苔絲提供了一份養(yǎng)雞的差事。瓊·德北非常高興。

解析：appear 出現(xiàn)、顯得；似乎、好像 文中的"appear"取“似乎、好像”的意思。
eg: Real returns also appear to be mixed.
實際收益似乎也是喜憂參半。

‘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．’
“這是讓你去他們那里，同時不要抱太大希望。我相信她一定會把你當做一家人看待的。”

解析：be sure of 確信、對……有把握
eg: I am sure of that the team will win the game.
我確信這支隊伍會贏得這場比賽。

‘I would rather stay here with father and you，’said Tess，looking out of the window．
“我寧愿留在家里跟你和爸爸在一起?！碧z看著窗外說。

解析：would rather 寧愿、寧可
eg: He said he would rather not tell his age.
他說他還是不告訴我年齡為好。

‘But why？’
“那又為什么？”

‘I'd rather not tell you， mother．I don't really know．’
“還是別對你說的好，媽媽，我也不太清楚?！?/div>

A few days later when Tess came back from looking for work， the children came running out and danced round her．
幾天過后，當苔絲外出找工作回來時，孩子們都跑了出來，圍著她手舞足蹈。

解析：look for 尋找
eg; He began to look for a new job immediately after he was fired.
他被解雇后立即開始尋找一份新工作。

‘The gentleman's been here！’they shouted.
“有位先生來過這兒！”他們?nèi)氯碌馈?/div>