1. That summer， Tess and Clare unconsciously studied each other， balanced on the edge of a passion， yet just keeping out of it．

【词汇注释】study在这里的意思是“仔细察看；仔细观察；研究调查”，相当于“examine something or somebody carefully”例如：

I know that you've been studying chimpanzees for thirty years now. 我知道你研究黑猩猩至今已有30年了。

I invite every citizen to carefully study the document. 我请每位市民都仔细研读该文件。

【短语注释】on the edge of的意思是“在.......的边缘”。例如：

Silent, they loafed on the edge of the wharf, swinging their legs above the water. 他们悄悄地坐在码头边上消磨时光，两腿在水面上来回晃荡。

New houses have mushroomed on the edge of the town. 城市边缘的新建房屋犹如雨后春笋。

【短语注释】keep out of something的意思是“，使某事不发生，避免发生某事”。例如：

He's trying to keep out of this quarrel.他不想插身在这场纠纷中间。

He'd better draw in his horns if he wants to keep out of trouble. 如果他想避免麻烦的话，最好再谨慎点。

【写作佳句】Sb. balances on the edge of passion：徘徊在感情的边缘

2. But all the time， like two streams in a valley， they were destined to join．

【语汇注释】all the time：所有时间 in a valley：在山谷间 destine：注定 join：结合

【写作佳句】 Sb. and sb. like two streams in a valley，they were destined to join．描写出某人与某人的爱已经到达很深的地步，这种爱使得他们是肯定要走在一起的。这句话体现出苔丝和这位男子对相互的爱慕已经很深了。

3. They met daily in the half-light，at three o’clock in the morning， just before milking．

【语汇注释】 half-light的意思是“a dull light in which it is difficult to see things”，指光线微弱而难以看到东西。例如：in the grey half-light of dawn（在拂晓时灰暗的光线下）。那么，in the half-light的意思就是“在微弱的光线下”。At three o’clock in the morning的意思是“凌晨三点钟”。

【文法解析】before milking是现在分词短语作时间状语，before可以省略。

4.They met continually．They could not help it．

【短语注释】 could not help something or doing something的意思是“经不住做某事”“忍不住做某事哦”。 例如：

We could not help being impressed by the majesty of the lofty mountains. 高山的雄伟壮丽不能不在我们心目中留下深刻的印象。

She could not help the tears of rage rolling down her face. 她那愤怒的泪水禁不住从脸上流了下来。

4. Tess seemed like a queen to Clare，perhaps because he knew that she was the most beautiful woman walking about at this time of day．

【短语注释】walk about的意思是“散步漫步”或“踱来踱去”“四处走动”。例如：

You can't walk about in this heat. 你不能在酷暑中到处走。

She might, possibly, have taken it into her head to walk about the garden?她是不是心血来潮地到花园里散步去了？

【文法解析】walking about是现在分词作后置定语修饰名词woman，意思是“正在漫步的女人”。

5. In the strange light she was no longer a milkmaid，but a vision of woman，the whole of womanhood in one form．

【语汇注释】no longer：不再是...... womanhood：女人的气质

【写作佳句】 Sb is a vision of woman, the whole of womanhood in one form. 某人是一个女人的幻象，集所有女人气质于一身。

此句话描绘出苔丝在这位男孩心中的地位很深，常言道：“情人眼里出西斯”。这句话体现出这句话的含义。