評論
打印
'How are you?' said one.
“你好？”一個人說。
'How are you?' replied the other.
“你好？”另一個回答道。
'Well!' said the first. 'The old man has died at last, has he?'
“哎！”第一個人說。“這老頭兒終于死了，不是嗎？”
'So they tell me,' replied the second. 'Cold, isn't it?'
“別人是這么告訴我的，”第二個人回答說。“好冷啊，不是嗎？”
'Nice and frosty for Christmas. Good morning!'
“對圣誕節來說很不錯而且還有霜。早上好。”
Not another word. That was the end of their meeting.
再沒有回答聲，他們的會面到此結束。
Scrooge wondered why the spirit wanted him to hear these conversations. What could they mean?
斯克羅吉不知道為什么幽靈想讓他聽這些談話。他們是什么意思呢？
The dead man could not be his partner Jacob, because he was already dead.
那個死人不可能是他的合伙人雅各布，因為他已經死了。
Scrooge watched carefully, trying to understand.
斯克羅吉認真地看著試圖搞個明白。
He looked round for his own shadow, but could not see himself anywhere.
他朝四周看了看找他自己的影子，但哪兒也找不到。
'Perhaps that's not surprising,' he thought, 'because if I change my life, and I'm planning to do that, I won't be the same person in the future!'
“也許這不足為奇，”他想，“因為如果我改變我的生活，當然我正打算這樣做，將來我就會成為另一個人了！”
Just then he noticed the spirit, standing quiet and dark beside him, with its pointing hand.
這時他看到了幽靈，靜靜地、幽暗地站在他身邊，手指著什么地方。
He felt the unseen eyes staring fixedly at him behind the black robe.
他感到那雙他看不見的眼睛正從黑袍子后目不轉睛地盯著他。
Scrooge's body shook, and he felt cold.
斯克羅吉渾身顫抖，他覺得冷。
They left the busy offices and banks, and went to another part of the capital, where Scrooge had never been before.
他們離開了繁忙的辦公室和銀行來到了都市的另一邊，斯克羅吉以前從沒有來過這里。
The streets were narrow and dirty, the houses miserably poor, the people unwashed and half-dressed.
街道又窄又臟，房子破爛不堪，人們連臉都沒有洗而且衣不蔽體。
Down one street there was a small shop, where an old man was sitting waiting for customers.
往南過一條馬路有一個小商店，里面坐著一個老頭等待著顧客的光臨。
His business was buying old furniture or clothes, and selling them again, to the poorest people in London.
他的生意是收購舊家具和衣服然后再賣給倫敦最窮的人。
As Scrooge and the spirit watched, three women arrived at the shop door at the same time, each carrying a large bundle.
當斯克羅吉和幽靈看著的時候，有三個婦女同時來到了商店門口，每個人都拿著一個大包袱。
They looked very surprised and a little ashamed to see each other.
她們相見后感到很吃驚又有些難為情。
Suddenly they all started laughing.
突然她們開始大笑。
'Ladies, you couldn't find a better place to meet,' said Joe, the old man, getting up.
“女士們，這是你們會面的最好的地方，”老頭喬說著，站了起來。
'Now come inside, and show me what you've got to sell.'
“進來，給我看看你們要賣什么。”
