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'What does your torch do, spirit?' asked Scrooge.
“你的火把是作什么用的，幽靈？”斯克羅吉問。
'It gives a special taste to people's dinners on this day,' answered the spirit.
“它能給人們今天的晚餐帶來特殊的味道，”幽靈回答說。
'Why do you use it most on poor people?' said Scrooge.
“你為什么大多把它用在窮人身上？”斯克羅吉問。
'Because poor people need it most,' was the reply.
“因為窮人最需要它，”幽靈回答說。
They went on through London, and came to the small house where Scrooge's clerk lived.
他們繼續(xù)前行，穿過倫敦，來到了斯克羅吉雇員居住的狹小住處。
Here the spirit smiled, and held his torch high over the door.
在這兒幽靈笑了，把他的火把高高地舉過房門。
Inside, Bob Cratchit's wife and second daughter, Belinda, in their everyday dresses, but looking clean and pretty, were putting plates on the table for their Christmas dinner.
屋里，鮑勃·克拉奇蒂的妻子和二女兒貝琳達(dá)身穿她們平日的服裝，但看起來干凈漂亮，她們正往桌子上擺圣誕晚餐用的盤子。
Bob's son Peter was helping to cook the potatoes, and two smaller Cratchits, a boy and a girl, were running round excitedly.
鮑勃的兒子彼得正幫著燒土豆，兩個再小點的克拉奇蒂，一男一女，正高興地來回跑著。
Just then the eldest daughter, Martha, arrived home from work.
這時大女兒瑪莎下班回來了。
'Here's Martha, mother!'cried the two young Cratchits happily.
“瑪莎回來了，媽媽！”兩個小克拉奇蒂高興地喊著。
'We're having a really big chicken for dinner, Martha!'
“晚飯我們能吃到一只真的很大的雞了，瑪莎！”
In fact it was only a small chicken, but it seemed large to the excited children.
實際上它不過是一只很小的雞，但對這些興奮的孩子們來說它似乎很大。
'My dear, how late you are!' said Mrs Cratchit, kissing her daughter several times.
“我親愛的，你這么晚才回來！”克拉奇蒂太太邊說邊吻了女兒好幾下。
'We were so busy yesterday, mother!' replied the girl. 'That's why we didn't finish until this morning!'
“我們昨天非常忙，媽媽！”女孩回答說。“所以我們直到今天早晨都沒有干完！”
'Well! Never mind, now that you're here. God bless you! Sit down by the fire, my dear!'
“哎！既然你回來了就沒關(guān)系了。愿上帝保佑你！親愛的，來坐到火邊來！”
'No, no! Father's coming!' ried the two young Cratchits. 'Hide, Martha, hide!'
“不，不！爸爸回來了！”兩個小克拉奇蒂嚷道。“藏起來，瑪莎，藏起來！”
So Martha hid herself, and in came Bob in his thin coat and long white scarf, with his son Tiny Tim in his arms.
所以瑪莎藏了起來，鮑勃身穿他的薄大衣戴著白色的長圍巾走了進來，懷里抱著小蒂姆。
Poor Tiny Tim! He had not walked since he was born, and although he could pull himself and his thin little legs along with the help of a wooden crutch, he was not strong enough to travel far alone.
可憐的小蒂姆啊！自從他降生就沒行走過。盡管他借助于一個木拐杖能夠拖著身軀和他那瘦骨嶙峋的腿往前走，但他畢竟太弱了，一個人走不了多遠(yuǎn)。
'Why, where's Martha?' cried Bob, looking round.
“怎么了，瑪莎呢？”鮑勃高聲喊道，并朝四周看了看。
'Not coming,' said Mrs Cratchit.
“還沒回來呢？”克拉奇蒂太太說。
'Not coming!' repeated Bob, his cheerful smile disappearing. 'Not coming on Christmas Day!'
“還沒回來！”鮑勃重復(fù)了一遍，他歡快的笑容不見了。“圣誕節(jié)了，還沒回來！”
