The village had formerly contained , side by side with the agricultural labourers , an interesting and better informed class , ranking distinctly above the former - the class to which tess s father and mother had belonged - and including the carpenter , the smith , the shoemaker , the huckster , together with nondescript workers other than farm - labourers ; a set of people who owed a certain stability of aim and conduct to the fact of their being life - holders like tess s father , or copyholders , or , occasionally , small freeholders 从前在乡村里，还有另外一个有趣的见识广的阶级同种地的庄稼汉居住在一起，他们的地位比庄稼汉高，苔丝的父亲和母亲属于这个阶级，这个阶级包括木匠铁匠鞋匠小贩，还有一些除了种地的庄稼汉而外的不好分类的人。他们这一班人都有固定的目的和职业，有的和苔丝的父亲一样，是不动产的终身所有人，也有的是副本持有不动产的人，有时候也有一些小不动产所有人。
