牛津书虫系列《圣诞欢歌》Chapter4 附中英双语文本

‘So，spirit，’said Scrooge in a broken voice，‘you can show me only happiness at this man's death．It frightens me，spirit．Show me，please，that there can be sadness at a death．’
“所以，幽灵，”斯克罗吉断断续续地说，“你只能让我看到这个人的死所带来的幸福。幽灵，这让我感到害怕，请让我看看死亡也能带来悲伤。”
The ghost took him silently through the streets，to poor Bob Cratchit's house．The room seemed strangely quiet．The mother and her daughters were making a small white cotton shirt together，while the usually noisy young Cratchits sat silently in a corner，and Peter was reading a book．Mrs Cratchit put her work down on the table，and covered her face with her hand．
鬼魂静静地带他穿过大街来到鲍勃·克拉奇蒂的房子。房子静得出奇，妈妈和女儿们正在一起缝制一件小白衬衫，而一向吵吵闹闹的小克拉奇蒂静静地坐在一个角落里，彼得正在看书。克拉奇蒂夫人把手头的活放在桌子上，用手捂住脸。
‘The colour hurts my eyes，’she said．The colour？Ah，poor Tiny Tim！
“这颜色刺得我的眼睛都疼了，”她说。这颜色？啊，可怜的小蒂姆！
They're a little better now，’she went on．‘It's difficult to work by candlelight．And I don't want to show red eyes to your father when he comes home．’
“现在眼睛好点了，”她继续说。“在烛光下干活真费劲，我不想让你父亲回来时看到我的眼睛红红的。”
‘He's a bit late，’said Peter，‘but I think he's walked more slowly these last few days，mother．’
“他稍晚了点，”彼得说，“但我觉得最近这几天他走得更慢了，妈妈。”
They were very quiet again．At last she said bravely，‘I've known him walk with—with Tiny Tim in his arms，very fast indeed．’
他们又都沉默了，最后她勇敢地说，“我知道他是怀里抱着——抱着小蒂姆走路的，实际上很快。”
‘So have I，’cried Peter．‘Often！’
“我也知道，”彼得大声说。“经常是这样！”
‘But he was very light to carry，and your father loved him so much！And there's your father at the door now！’she got up quickly to kiss Bob as he came in．He looked tired and thin， and needed his long scarf，poor man！Martha took his boots and scarf off，and Belinda brought him his tea，and the little Cratchits sat close to him．He was very cheerful with all of them，and was pleased with the little shirt that his wife and daughters were making．
“但他很轻，抱着方便，你爸爸很喜欢他！现在爸爸到门口了！”她立刻起身，当鲍勃进屋的时候她吻了他。他看上去疲惫消瘦，而且需要他的长围巾，好可怜的人啊！玛莎为他脱下靴子，摘下围巾，贝琳达给他端来茶，小克拉奇蒂们紧挨着他坐下。和他们在一起他开心极了，他妻子和女儿们缝制的小衬衫使他很高兴。
‘It'll be ready long before Sunday，won't it？’he said．
“星期日之前能做好，不是吗？”他问道。
‘Sunday！You went there today，then，Bob？’asked his wife．
“星期日！那么你今天去那儿了，鲍勃？”他妻子问。
‘Yes，my dear．You'd love to see it．It's a beautiful green place．But you'll see it often．I promised him that we would go there every Sunday．My little，little child！’cried Bob，hiding his face in his hands．He had loved the boy very much．
“是的，亲爱的。你想看看它，那地方绿绿的，很漂亮，但你会经常看到它的。我答应他我们每个星期日都去那儿。我的小宝贝啊！”鲍勃哭了，双手捂住了脸。他过去一直深爱着这个男孩。
He went upstairs to the quiet bedroom，where the chlid lay．Poor Bob sat down beside him， and when he felt calmer， he kissed the little face，and went downstairs again，almost happy．
他上楼来到了那孩子躺着的静静的卧室。可怜的鲍勃坐在他身边，当孩子稍平静了些的时候，他吻了他的小脸蛋然后下了楼，这时他似乎高兴了。
‘My dears，’he said to his children，‘one of these days some of you will marry and leave home．In a few year's time perhaps all of you will．But I'm sure none of us will ever forget Tiny Tim，will we？’
“我亲爱的孩子们，”他对他们说，“总有一天你们中的一个孩子要结婚离开家，几年之内你们都会这样的，但我认为我们谁也不会忘记小蒂姆，是吗？”
‘Never，father！’they all cried．
“永远不会的，爸爸！”他们都哭了。
‘And I know，’said Bob，‘that when we remember how patient and gentle he was，although he was only a little child，we won't argue among ourselves．We'll remember poor Tiny Tim， and love each other！’