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We all have to pay for prisons and workhouses — they cost enough. The poor will have to go there.'
我们都要付钱给看守所和济贫院——这笔开销够大的了。没钱的人应该去那儿。”
'Many can't go there, and many prefer to die.'
“很多人不能去，还有很多人宁愿去死。”
'If they prefer to die, why don't they die, then?
“如果他们宁愿死的话，他们为什么不去死呢？
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话这倒是件好事。
All this is none of my business!
这些都与我无关！
It's enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to think about other people's.
一个人能清楚他自己该做什么就够了，用不着去考虑别人的事。
I'm a very busy man. Good afternoon, gentlemen!'
我很忙，再见，先生们！”
The gentlemen shook their heads a little sadly, and left the office.
两位绅士难过地摇摇头，离开了办公室。
Scrooge went back to his work, feeling pleased with himself.
斯克罗吉又重新开始工作，心中很得意。
Now the fog was at its thickest outside, and the cold was biting.
现在外面的雾大得不能再大了，天气寒冷刺骨。
Lights shone brightly from the shop windows.
商店的窗户闪烁出耀眼的光。
People were hurrying here and there — rich and poor alike - to buy what they needed for tomorrow's Christmas dinner.
人们匆忙地穿梭着——有钱人和穷人都一样——去采购他们明天圣诞晚餐所需要的东西。
At last it was time to close the office. Scrooge got up slowly from his desk.
最后终于到了关门的时间了。斯克罗吉慢慢地从桌子后站起身。
Bob was waiting for this moment, and he immediately put on his hat.
鲍勃等的就是这一刻，所以他立即戴上了帽子。
'You'll want a holiday all day tomorrow, I suppose?' said Scrooge.
“我猜测你想明天一天都放假，是吗？”斯克罗吉问。
'If you don't mind, sir.'
“先生，如果你不介意的话。”
'I do mind. It's not fair. I have to pay you for a day's work when you don't do any work.'
“我确实介意，这不公平。你不做任何工作，我还得付你工钱。”
'It's only once a year, sir,' said Bob politely.
“先生，一年就这么一次，”鲍勃礼貌地说。
'That's no reason for robbing me every twenty-fifth of December!' said Scrooge, putting on his coat.
“这也并不能成为每年的12月25五日你抢夺我钱财的理由！”斯克罗吉边说边穿上了大衣。
'But I suppose you must have it. Be here early next morning.'
“但我想这个节你必须得过。第二天早晨早点到。”
'Yes, sir, I will, I promise,' Bob said happily.
“是的，先生，我会的，我保证。”鲍勃高兴地说。
Scrooge walked out, without another word.
斯克罗吉再没说一名话走了出去。
When bob had closed the office, he ran home to his family in Camden Town as quickly as possible.
鲍勃关上办公室的门后，以最快的速度跑回他位于卡姆登镇的家。
Scrooge always used to eat his dinner alone, in the same miserable little eating-house.
斯克罗吉总是独自一人在同样寒酸的小饮食店里吃晚饭，
Tonight was no different from other nights.
今晚也同往常一样。
He read the newspapers, looked at his bank books, and went home to bed.
他读着报纸，看着银行的存单，然后回家去睡觉。
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过的房子里。
They were in an old, dark building in a lonely side street, where no one except Scrooge lived.
它在一幢临街的孤零零的又旧又黑的楼里，只有斯克罗吉一人住在这里。
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，要穿过雾和霜，斯克罗吉不得不用手摸索着在街上前行。
He finally reached his front door and put the key in the lock.
最后终于来到了他的前门，把钥匙插进锁里。
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，令他大吃一惊的是，他看到门环已不再是门环了，它已变成了雅各布·马利的脸了。
He had not thought of his partner for seven years, until that afternoon, when he spoke Marley's name to his visitors.
直到今天下午他对来访者说起马利的名字时，他已经有七年没有想过他的合伙人了。
But there in front of him was Marley's face, white and ghostly, with terrible staring eyes.
但呈现在他面前的是马利的脸，惨白似鬼一般，还有一双怒目圆睁的恐怖的眼睛。
As Scrooge looked, it became a knocker again.
斯克罗吉看着看着，它又变成了门环。
He was afraid, but he did not show his fear.
但他没有表现出他的惧怕。
He turned the key, opened the door and walked in.
他转动钥匙，打开门走了进去。
