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We all have to pay for prisons and workhouses — they cost enough. The poor will have to go there.'
我們都要付錢給看守所和濟貧院——這筆開銷夠大的了。沒錢的人應該去那兒。”
'Many can't go there, and many prefer to die.'
“很多人不能去，還有很多人寧愿去死。”
'If they prefer to die, why don't they die, then?
“如果他們寧愿死的話，他們為什么不去死呢？
There are too many people in the world, so it's a good thing if some of them die.
世界上的人太多了，所以如果有些人死了的話這倒是件好事。
All this is none of my business!
這些都與我無關！
It's enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to think about other people's.
一個人能清楚他自己該做什么就夠了，用不著去考慮別人的事。
I'm a very busy man. Good afternoon, gentlemen!'
我很忙，再見，先生們！”
The gentlemen shook their heads a little sadly, and left the office.
兩位紳士難過地搖搖頭，離開了辦公室。
Scrooge went back to his work, feeling pleased with himself.
斯克羅吉又重新開始工作，心中很得意。
Now the fog was at its thickest outside, and the cold was biting.
現在外面的霧大得不能再大了，天氣寒冷刺骨。
Lights shone brightly from the shop windows.
商店的窗戶閃爍出耀眼的光。
People were hurrying here and there — rich and poor alike - to buy what they needed for tomorrow's Christmas dinner.
人們匆忙地穿梭著——有錢人和窮人都一樣——去采購他們明天圣誕晚餐所需要的東西。
At last it was time to close the office. Scrooge got up slowly from his desk.
最后終于到了關門的時間了。斯克羅吉慢慢地從桌子后站起身。
Bob was waiting for this moment, and he immediately put on his hat.
鮑勃等的就是這一刻，所以他立即戴上了帽子。
'You'll want a holiday all day tomorrow, I suppose?' said Scrooge.
“我猜測你想明天一天都放假，是嗎？”斯克羅吉問。
'If you don't mind, sir.'
“先生，如果你不介意的話。”
'I do mind. It's not fair. I have to pay you for a day's work when you don't do any work.'
“我確實介意，這不公平。你不做任何工作，我還得付你工錢。”
'It's only once a year, sir,' said Bob politely.
“先生，一年就這么一次，”鮑勃禮貌地說。
'That's no reason for robbing me every twenty-fifth of December!' said Scrooge, putting on his coat.
“這也并不能成為每年的12月25五日你搶奪我錢財的理由！”斯克羅吉邊說邊穿上了大衣。
'But I suppose you must have it. Be here early next morning.'
“但我想這個節你必須得過。第二天早晨早點到。”
'Yes, sir, I will, I promise,' Bob said happily.
“是的，先生，我會的，我保證。”鮑勃高興地說。
Scrooge walked out, without another word.
斯克羅吉再沒說一名話走了出去。
When bob had closed the office, he ran home to his family in Camden Town as quickly as possible.
鮑勃關上辦公室的門后，以最快的速度跑回他位于卡姆登鎮的家。
Scrooge always used to eat his dinner alone, in the same miserable little eating-house.
斯克羅吉總是獨自一人在同樣寒酸的小飲食店里吃晚飯，
Tonight was no different from other nights.
今晚也同往常一樣。
He read the newspapers, looked at his bank books, and went home to bed.
他讀著報紙，看著銀行的存單，然后回家去睡覺。
He lived in rooms which had once belonged to his dead partner.
他住在他的已故的合伙人曾住過的房子里。
They were in an old, dark building in a lonely side street, where no one except Scrooge lived.
它在一幢臨街的孤零零的又舊又黑的樓里，只有斯克羅吉一人住在這里。
In the blackness of the night, through the fog and the frost, Scrooge had to feel his way along the street with his hands.
夜幕下，要穿過霧和霜，斯克羅吉不得不用手摸索著在街上前行。
He finally reached his front door and put the key in the lock.
最后終于來到了他的前門，把鑰匙插進鎖里。
Suddenly, to his great surprise, he saw that the knocker was not a knocker any more, but had become the face of Jacob Marley!
突然，令他大吃一驚的是，他看到門環已不再是門環了，它已變成了雅各布·馬利的臉了。
He had not thought of his partner for seven years, until that afternoon, when he spoke Marley's name to his visitors.
直到今天下午他對來訪者說起馬利的名字時，他已經有七年沒有想過他的合伙人了。
But there in front of him was Marley's face, white and ghostly, with terrible staring eyes.
但呈現在他面前的是馬利的臉，慘白似鬼一般，還有一雙怒目圓睜的恐怖的眼睛。
As Scrooge looked, it became a knocker again.
斯克羅吉看著看著，它又變成了門環。
He was afraid, but he did not show his fear.
但他沒有表現出他的懼怕。
He turned the key, opened the door and walked in.
他轉動鑰匙，打開門走了進去。
