But Martha didn't like to worry her father for a minute, so she ran out from behind the door and kissed him, while the two young Cratchits showed Tiny Tim the chicken, now ready to eat.
但是瑪莎不想讓父親為她多擔心一分鐘,所以她從門后跑出來,吻了父親,這時兩個小克拉奇蒂在給小蒂姆看那只已經燒熟了的雞。
Scrooge and the spirit watched as the family sat down to eat.
當全家人坐好準備吃飯時斯克羅吉和幽靈看著。
It was a poor enough meal, but to them it seemed wonderful, and they ate every bit of it.
這是一頓粗茶淡飯,但對他們來說它似乎是很豐盛的,他們把它吃了個精光。
'It's the best chicken I've ever tasted,' said Bob, smiling round at his family, who, with their mouths full, all agreed.
“這是我曾經吃到過的最好吃的雞。”鮑勃說,并對全家人都笑了笑,每個人的嘴里都塞滿了吃的,他們都表示同意。
And then, the most exciting moment of the day!
接著是這一天最激動人心的時刻!
Belinda put a clean plate in front of each person, and they all turned to look at Mrs Cratchit as she came in from the kitchen.
貝琳達在每個人面前放了一個干凈盤子,當克拉奇蒂太太從廚房出來時,大家都轉過身看著她。
Her face was hot from her morning's work, but she was smiling happily as she carried in - the Christmas pudding, in its little circle of blue fire!
由于從一大早就開始忙,她的臉發熱,但當她把帶著藍火圈的圣誕布丁拿進來時,她幸福地笑了。
Oh, it was a wonderful pudding! They were all delighted with it.
噢,多好的布丁啊!他們看到它都很高興。
'It's your greatest success in all the years that we've been married, my dear!' said Bob.
“親愛的,這是我們結婚這么多年來你做的最成功的一件事!”鮑勃說。
'Well, I did wonder how much fruit to put in it,' said his wife, 'but, yes, it's a good one!' And she laughed just like a young girl.
“哎,我的確不知道里面該放多少水果,”他妻子說,“不過,是的,它很不錯!”她像一個小姑娘似地樂了。
Nobody said that it was a very small pudding for a large family.
沒有人說這布丁太小,尤其對這么個大家庭來說。
Nobody even thought it. No Cratchit ever said or thought things like that.
沒有人這么想過。克拉奇蒂家人從沒沒有這么說過,也沒有這么想過。
At last, when they had finished their meal, the children cleared the table and washed the plates.
最后,當他們吃完飯后,孩子們收拾好桌子并把碗洗干凈了,
Then they all sat round the fire, eating apples and oranges.
他們團團圍坐在爐火旁吃著蘋果和桔子。
There was a large bowl of fruit and sugar and hot water and something a little stronger, but only three people could drink at the same time, because the family only owned two glasses and a cup.
有一大碗水果、糖、熱水和略含酒精的東西,但只有三個人可以同時喝,因為他們家只有兩個玻璃杯和一個茶杯,
But this did not worry the Cratchits at all.
但克拉奇蒂一家并沒因此而犯愁。
Now Bob lifted his glass and said, 'A merry Christmas to us all, my dears! God bless us!'
鮑勃現在舉起杯子說,“祝我們大家圣誕快樂,親愛的!上帝保佑我們!”
The family repeated his wish, and Tiny Tim said, last of all, 'God bless us every one!' He sat very close to his father, on a small chair.
全家人重復著他的祝愿,最后,小蒂姆說,“愿上帝保佑我們每一個人!”他緊靠著爸爸坐在一把小椅子上。
Bob held his son's thin little hand in this own. The boy had a special place in his father's heart.
鮑勃手握著他兒子瘦小的手,這個男孩在他父親的心目中占據著特殊的位置。
'Spirit,' said Scrooge, with an interest that he had never felt before, 'tell me if Tiny Tim will live.'
“幽靈,”斯克羅吉以他以前從未有過的熱情問,“告訴我小蒂姆是否能活下去。”
'In the future I see an empty chair by the fire, with a crutch beside it.
“將來我會看到火旁邊有一把空椅子,邊上有一根拐杖。
If these shadows do not change, the child will die.'
如果這些影子不變的話,他就會死去。”
'No, no!' said Scrooge. 'Oh no, kind spirit! Say that he will live!'
“不,不!”斯克羅吉說。“噢,善良的幽靈!說他會活下去的。”