I believe Mary was left to the tender mercies of her step-mother。 【误译】我相信后母将温情给予了玛丽。 【正确】我相信玛丽受到了后母的虐待。 说明： be left to the tender mercy of 是习语 (mercy 取单复数均可)， 意为"受.....。虐待","受.....。摆布","吃.....。的苦头"。