《圣诞颂歌》 第三章 三幽灵中的第二位(3)（在线收听）

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.

但是玛莎不想让父亲为她多担心一分钟，所以她从门后跑出来，吻了父亲，这时两个小克拉奇蒂在给小蒂姆看那只已经烧熟了的鸡。

Scrooge and the spirit watched as the family sat down to eat.

当全家人坐好准备吃饭时斯克罗吉和幽灵看着。

It was a poor enough meal, but to them it seemed wonderful, and they ate every bit of it.

这是一顿粗茶淡饭，但对他们来说它似乎是很丰盛的，他们把它吃了个精光。

'It's the best chicken I've ever tasted,' said Bob, smiling round at his family, who, with their mouths full, all agreed.

“这是我曾经吃到过的最好吃的鸡。”鲍勃说，并对全家人都笑了笑，每个人的嘴里都塞满了吃的，他们都表示同意。

And then, the most exciting moment of the day!

接着是这一天最激动人心的时刻！

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.

贝琳达在每个人面前放了一个干净盘子，当克拉奇蒂太太从厨房出来时，大家都转过身看着她。

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!

由于从一大早就开始忙，她的脸发热，但当她把带着蓝火圈的圣诞布丁拿进来时，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！他们看到它都很高兴。

'It's your greatest success in all the years that we've been married, my dear!' said Bob.

“亲爱的，这是我们结婚这么多年来你做的最成功的一件事！”鲍勃说。

'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，我的确不知道里面该放多少水果，”他妻子说，“不过，是的，它很不错！”她像一个小姑娘似地乐了。

Nobody said that it was a very small pudding for a large family.

没有人说这布丁太小，尤其对这么个大家庭来说。

Nobody even thought it. No Cratchit ever said or thought things like that.

没有人这么想过。克拉奇蒂家人从没没有这么说过，也没有这么想过。

At last, when they had finished their meal, the children cleared the table and washed the plates.

最后，当他们吃完饭后，孩子们收拾好桌子并把碗洗干净了，

Then they all sat round the fire, eating apples and oranges.

他们团团围坐在炉火旁吃着苹果和桔子。

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、热水和略含酒精的东西，但只有三个人可以同时喝，因为他们家只有两个玻璃杯和一个茶杯，

But this did not worry the Cratchits at all.

但克拉奇蒂一家并没因此而犯愁。

Now Bob lifted his glass and said, 'A merry Christmas to us all, my dears! God bless us!'

鲍勃现在举起杯子说，“祝我们大家圣诞快乐，亲爱的！上帝保佑我们！”

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.

全家人重复着他的祝愿，最后，小蒂姆说，“愿上帝保佑我们每一个人！”他紧靠着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.

鲍勃手握着他儿子瘦小的手，这个男孩在他父亲的心目中占据着特殊的位置。

'Spirit,' said Scrooge, with an interest that he had never felt before, 'tell me if Tiny Tim will live.'

“幽灵，”斯克罗吉以他以前从未有过的热情问，“告诉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.

“将来我会看到火旁边有一把空椅子，边上有一根拐杖。

If these shadows do not change, the child will die.'

如果这些影子不变的话，他就会死去。”

'No, no!' said Scrooge. 'Oh no, kind spirit! Say that he will live!'

“不，不！”斯克罗吉说。“噢，善良的幽灵！说他会活下去的。”