Adam was relieved to have an active task—both of them were relieved to be apart from each other for a short time.

亚当因为有一项积极的任务而松了一口气——他们俩都因为暂时分开而松了一口气。

In reality Adam was convinced that his father was dead but he knew there was no other way of repressing his mother's impetuous wailing grief than by occupying her with some active task which had hope in it.

事实上，亚当深信他的父亲已经死了，但他知道除了让她做一些有希望的积极任务之外，没有其他方法可以压抑他母亲的冲动哭泣的悲伤。