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无论如何，现在的圣克莱尔与以往是截然不同了。他虔诚而仔细地阅读《圣经》，冷静而认真地思考自己和仆人们的关系--这样难免会使他对从前和现在的许多做法感到厌恶。他回到新奥尔良后就开始处理汤姆的事，一旦把那些法律手续办妥，汤姆就可以获得自由了。圣克莱尔每天和汤姆呆在一起的时间长了，因为只有汤姆是这广阔的世间最能让他想到伊娃的人。尽管以前圣克莱尔总是把感情埋得很深，现在却固执地把汤姆留在身边，止不住把心中的点点滴滴向他倾诉。不过，如果谁见到汤姆这位时刻紧跟在主人身后的仆人脸上流露出的关切忠厚之情，对圣克莱尔的倾吐就不会感到奇怪了。 "Well, Tom," said St. Clare, the day after he had commenced the legal formalities for his enfranchisement, "I'm going to make a free man of you;--so have your trunk packed, and get ready to set out for Kentuck."" 汤姆，"圣克莱尔在为汤姆办理法律手续的第二天对他说，"我打算还你自由之身。你去收抬一下行李，近日就可以启程近回肯塔基了。" The sudden light of joy that shone in Tom's face as he raised his hands to heaven, his emphatic "Bless the Lord!" rather discomposed St. Clare; he did not like it that Tom should be so ready to leave him. 一听这话，汤姆立刻喜形于色，他举起双手，高呼一声："谢天谢地！"欣喜之情难以形容。圣克莱尔见此情景，有些莫名的烦躁。汤姆这样急于离开他，使他微感不快。 "You haven't had such very bad times here, that you need be in such a rapture, Tom," he said drily." 你在这儿的日子不至于度日如年吧？怎么听到离开如此兴奋？"圣克莱尔冷冷地说。 "No, no, Mas'r! 'tan't that,--it's bein' a _freeman!_ that's what I'm joyin' for."" 不，老爷，不是那么回事，可是我就要自由了，怎么能不高兴呢？" 
汤姆，难道你没想过，留在这儿兴许比你获得自由更好呢！" "_No, indeed_, Mas'r St. Clare," said Tom, with a flash of energy. "No, indeed!"" 不，怎么会呢？"汤姆有力地回答道，"圣克莱尔老爷，才不是那么回事呢！" "Why, Tom, you couldn't possibly have earned, by your work, such clothes and such living as I have given you."" 可是，汤姆，单论干活，你绝不能像在我这儿一样穿得舒适，过得舒心哪！" "Knows all that, Mas'r St. Clare; Mas'r's been too good; but, Mas'r, I'd rather have poor clothes, poor house, poor everything, and have 'em _mine_, than have the best, and have 'em any man's else,--I had _so_, Mas'r; I think it's natur, Mas'r."" 这个我知道，老爷您对我真是再好也没有了。可是，老爷，我就是宁愿穿破旧衣服，住破旧房子，只要是我自己的，再破我也愿意；穿得再好，吃得再讲究，只要是别人的，我就不愿意。老爷，我就是这样想的，这也是人之常情。您说呢？" "I suppose so, Tom, and you'll be going off and leaving me, in a month or so," he added, rather discontentedly. "Though why you shouldn't, no mortal knows," he said, in a gayer tone; and, getting up, he began to walk the floor." 或许是这样吧。汤姆，过不了一个月你就要走了，离开我了，"圣克莱尔惆怅地说，"唉，怎么可能不走呢？老天知道。"他轻叹了一声，站起身来，在屋子里踱开了方步。 
老爷只要还在痛苦中，我是不会离开的！"汤姆说，"我会一直呆在您身边，只要我对您有用处。" "Not while I'm in trouble, Tom?" said St. Clare, looking sadly out of the window. . . . "And when will _my_ trouble be over?"" 你是说我还在痛苦中，你就不会走，是吗，汤姆？"圣克莱尔说，凄凉地朝窗外望去，"可是我的痛苦何时才能休止啊！" "When Mas'r St. Clare's a Christian," said Tom." 老爷若成了基督徒，痛苦就会消失。"汤姆说。 "And you really mean to stay by till that day comes?" said St. Clare, half smiling, as he turned from the window, and laid his hand on Tom's shoulder. "Ah, Tom, you soft, silly boy! I won't keep you till that day. Go home to your wife and children, and give my love to all."" 你真打算等到那一天吗？"站在窗边的圣克莱尔转过身来，手放在汤姆肩上，微笑着说，"喂，汤姆，你真是个心软的傻瓜！可是，我不会让你挨到那一天的。赶紧回家和老婆孩子团聚吧！代我向他们问好。" "I 's faith to believe that day will come," said Tom, earnestly, and with tears in his eyes; "the Lord has a work for Mas'r."" 我相信那一天总会来临的，"汤姆的眼眶里饱含着泪水，他深情地说，"上帝还有使命要交给您呢！" 
你说'使命'，汤姆？"圣克莱尔说，"好吧，你说说看，是什么使命，我洗耳恭听。" "Why, even a poor fellow like me has a work from the Lord; and Mas'r St. Clare, that has larnin, and riches, and friends,--how much he might do for the Lord!"" 嗯……就连我这个苦命人上帝都给我安排了使命呢！老爷您见多识广，又这么富有，上帝可以安排您做很多事呢！" "Tom, you seem to think the Lord needs a great deal done for him," said St. Clare, smiling." 汤姆，你似乎认为上帝需要我们替他做很多事。"圣克莱尔说道。 "We does for the Lord when we does for his critturs," said Tom." 难道不对吗？我们为上帝的子民做事，就是为上帝做事。"汤姆说。 "Good theology, Tom; better than Dr. B. preaches, I dare swear," said St. Clare." 这是文明的神学，汤姆；我敢打赌，这比B博士的布道要精彩得多。"圣克莱尔说。 
这时仆人通报说有客来访，谈话就此结束。 Marie St. Clare felt the loss of Eva as deeply as she could feel anything; and, as she was a woman that had a great faculty of making everybody unhappy when she was, her immediate attendants had still stronger reason to regret the loss of their young mistress, whose winning ways and gentle intercessions had so often been a shield to them from the tyrannical and selfish exactions of her mother. Poor old Mammy, in particular, whose heart, severed from all natural domestic ties, had consoled itself with this one beautiful being, was almost heart-broken. She cried day and night, and was, from excess of sorrow, less skilful and alert in her ministrations of her mistress than usual, which drew down a constant storm of invectives on her defenceless head. 玛丽·圣克莱尔痛失爱女，自然十分悲伤。不过，她这种女人惯于在自己不快的时候，让周围的人也快活不起来。因此，她的贴身女仆们都倍加悼念已逝的小主人。每当她的母亲对仆人们提出种种武断专横、自私自利的苛求时，总是出来当她们的护身符，用令人倾倒的态度为她们委婉地求情。可怜的老妈咪在此地举目无亲，只将伊娃作为心头惟一的安慰；现在伊娃已去，她心都碎了，夜夜以泪洗面。由于过于伤心，心力交瘁，她侍奉女主人不如以前麻利了，常惹得玛丽勃然大怒。现在，再没有人出来庇护她了。 Miss Ophelia felt the loss; but, in her good and honest heart, it bore fruit unto everlasting life. She was more softened, more gentle; and, though equally assiduous in every duty, it was with a chastened and quiet air, as one who communed with her own heart not in vain. She was more diligent in teaching Topsy,--taught her mainly from the Bible,--did not any longer shrink from her touch, or manifest an ill-repressed disgust, because she felt none. She viewed her now through the softened medium that Eva's hand had first held before her eyes, and saw in her only an immortal creature, whom God had sent to be led by her to glory and virtue. Topsy did not become at once a saint; but the life and death of Eva did work a marked change in her. The callous indifference was gone; there was now sensibility, hope, desire, and the striving for good,--a strife irregular, interrupted, suspended oft, but yet renewed again. 奥菲利亚小姐对伊娃的死同样痛彻骨髓。不过，在她诚实善良的心里，悲痛已化为生命的源泉。她比以往更温柔体贴了，她做各项工作都是兢兢业业，态度更为沉稳精干，仿佛达到了一个能与自己灵魂沟通的人才能达到的境界。她主要以《圣经》为课本，教托普西识字更为认真了；她不害怕与托普西接触，也不再流露出那种难以抑制的厌恶感，因为那种感觉已完全消失了。她现在是以伊娃第一次在她面前显露出来的温柔的品质来看待托普西，托普西仿佛成了上帝委派给她的将其引上荣耀与圣德之路的人。托普西并非立马就变成了圣人，但伊娃在世的所为和死亡显然给她带来了深刻的影响，她先前那种麻木不仁、一切都无所谓的态度消失了，她也变得有情有义，满怀振奋向上和憧憬之情。尽管这种努力时断时续，难以持之以恒，但从未完全断绝，停辍一段时间之后总会重新开始。 One day, when Topsy had been sent for by Miss Ophelia, she came, hastily thrusting something into her bosom. 一天，奥菲利亚小姐派罗莎去叫托普西。托普西一边走，一边慌慌张张地往怀里塞什么东西。 "What are you doing there, you limb? You've been stealing something, I'll be bound," said the imperious little Rosa, who had been sent to call her, seizing her, at the same time, roughly by the arm." 你在做什么，调皮鬼？我敢打赌你又偷东西了。"矮个子罗莎一把拽住托普西的胳膊，厉声质问道。 
你走开，罗莎小姐！"托普西竭力挣脱她，"这不关你的事！" "None o' your sa'ce!" said Rosa, "I saw you hiding something,--I know yer tricks," and Rosa seized her arm, and tried to force her hand into her bosom, while Topsy, enraged, kicked and fought valiantly for what she considered her rights. The clamor and confusion of the battle drew Miss Ophelia and St. Clare both to the spot." 不关我的事？"罗莎说道，"我亲眼看见你鬼鬼祟祟地藏什么东西。得了，你的鬼把戏还骗得了我？"罗莎揪住托普西的胳膊，伸手就去抢她怀里的东西。托普西被激怒了，她又踢又打，竭力维护她自己的权利。奥菲利亚小姐和圣克莱尔被吵闹声惊动了，立刻赶到了现场。 "She's been stealing!" said Rosa. " 她偷东西！"罗莎指控道。
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