4 The last of the spirits

　　‘The third spirit will come at midnight．’scrooge suddenly remembered the words of Jacob Marley's ghost，and，lifting his eyes，saw a spirit，all in black，coming slowly towards him．It was a tall，silent figure，wearing a long black robe which hid its head and body．When it came close to him，it stopped and pointed onwards with one hand．Scrooge was more afraid of this spirit than he had been of the others，and his voice was shaking as he asked，‘Are you the spirit of Christmas Yet to Come？’the ghost neither spoke nor moved，but still pointed onwards．

　　‘Are you going to show me shadows of the things which haven't happened yet， but will happen in the future？’scrooge asked．

　　There was no answer．

　　‘Ghost of the future！’he continued．‘You frighten me very much，but I think you can help me to change my life．I'll be very grateful to you if you show me the future．Won't you speak to me？’

　　Again，no reply．

　　‘Well，show me the way，spirit！’said Scrooge finally．‘The night is passing，and time is valuable to me，I know．’

　　The ghost moved away，with Scrooge following in its shadow．Suddenly they were in the heart of the capital，among the businessmen and moneylenders．The ghost pointed to one small group of men，so Scrooge went closer to listen to their conversation．

　　‘No，I don't know much about it，’said one fat man．‘I only know he's dead．’

　　‘When did he die？’asked another man．

　　‘Last night，I think．’

　　‘Why，what was the matter with him？’asked a third．

　　‘I've no idea，’replied the fat man，looking bored．‘who cares？’

　　‘What's he done with his money？’asked a red-faced gentleman．

　　‘I haven't heard，’said the fat man．‘He hasn't left it to me， that's all I know．’

　　They all laughed at this．Scrooge knew the men， and looked towards the spirit， hoping it would explain what the conversation meant．But the ghost moved on，pointing at two more men．Scrooge listened again．He knew these men well．They were rich and important， and he had often done business with them．

　　‘How are you？’said one．

　　‘How are you？’replied the other．

　　‘Well！’said the first．‘The old man has died at last，has he？’

　　‘So they tell me，’replied the second．‘Cold，isn't it？’

　　‘Nice and frosty for Christmas．Good morning！’

　　Not another word．That was the end of their meeting．

　　Scrooge wondered why the spirit wanted him to hear these conversations．What could they mean？The dead man could not be his partner Jacob，because he was already dead．

　　Scrooge watched carefully，trying to understand．He looked round for his own shadow，but could not see himself anywhere．‘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！’Just then he noticed the spirit，standing quiet and dark beside him， with its pointing hand．He felt the unseen eyes staring fixedly at him behind the black robe Scrooge's body shook，and he felt cold．

　　They left the busy offices and banks，and went to another part of the capital，where Scrooge had never been before．The streets were narrow and dirty，the houses miserably poor，the people unwashed and half-dressed．Down one street there was a small shop， where an old man was sitting waiting for customers．His business was buying old furniture or clothes，and selling them again，to the poorest people in London．As Scrooge and the spirit watched，three women arrived at the shop door at the same time， each carrying a large bundle．They looked very surprised and a little ashamed to see each other．Suddenly they all started laughing．

　　‘Ladies，you couldn't find a better place to meet，’said Joe， the old man，getting up．‘Now come inside，and show me what you've got to sell．’

　　Inside，the first woman put her bundle on the table and said，‘I don't care if everybody knows where this comes from！ We all have to take care of ourselves！ He always did！’

　　‘That's right，’agreed the second woman．

　　‘Very true，’agreed the third．

　　‘Does a dead man need these things？’continued the first woman．‘And why was he so mean while he was alive？’We all worked for him，didn't we？ Cleaned his house，washed his clothes，cooked his soup？ And what did we get？Three shillings a week！It's no surprise that he died alone， with no friends around him！’

　　‘You never spoke a truer word，’said the second．

　　‘He was a bad man，we all know that，’said the third．

　　‘Now what have we here？’said old Joe，opening the women's bundles．‘Buttons，pencils，boots，silver spoons，some excellent bed-curtains，blankets and—a very good shirt，’he added，feeling the fine cotton．

　　‘Yes，it was his best，’said the first woman．‘They put it on him after he died．But he doesn't need it now that he's dead！And the blankets and bed-curtains！He doesn't need them either！

　　‘You took the shirt off a dead body，and the blankets and curtains off his bed，while he was lying there！Well，well！’said Joe，shaking his head．‘Here's your money．’And he counted out several shillings into the women's hands．

　　‘Ha ha ha！’laughed the first woman．‘He frightened everyone away when he was alive，and we've made money out of him now that he's dead！ Ha ha ha！’

　　Scrooge felt sick and angry at the same time．‘Spirit，’he said，‘I see now．I could be that unhappy man．Good Heavens， what's this？’

　　Joe and the women had disappeared，and Scrooge was standing in a dark room．Opposite him was a bed， with no blankets or curtains．A light shone down from above，on to the body of a dead man，covered with a sheet．

　　‘How sad，’thought Scrooge，‘to die with no friends or family around him！ To lie in an empty room，with no candles or flowers，and robbed of his clothes！To know that nobody loves him， because he loved nobody in his life！Money can't buy a happy life，or a peaceful death！’He looked at the spirit， whose hand was pointing at the man's covered head．It would be easy to lift the sheet，and see who the man was．But for some reason Scrooge could not do it．

　　‘Spirit，’he said，‘this is a terrible place．Let's go！’

　　Still the ghost's unmoving finger pointed at the man's head．

　　‘I understand you，but I can't look at him，spirit，I can't！’said Scrooge wildly．‘If there's anyone in this town who feels anything at this man's death， show that person to me， spirit， please！’

　　For a moment the spirit lifted its dark robe like a wing，and showed Scrooge a room， where a mother and her children were sitting．The young woman kept looking at the clock，and when her husband arrived， she hurried to meet him．

　　‘What—what is the news？’she asked him worriedly．‘Is it good！…or… or bad？’

　　‘There is still hope，Caroline，’he replied．

　　‘How can there be hope？If that hard，mean old man wants us to pay back the money now，they'll send us to prison！We haven't got enough to pay him！’

　　‘He is dead，Caroline，’answered her husband．

　　‘Thank God for that！’cried the young woman from her heart．The next moment she realized what she had said．‘Oh， I didn't mean that．I'm sorry if anyone dies．’

　　‘Perhaps the person who inherits his business will give us more time to pay the money back．And we'll have the money by then．Tonight we can sleep well，Caroline！’

　　‘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．’

　　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．

　　‘The colour hurts my eyes，’she said．The colour？Ah，poor Tiny Tim！

　　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．’

　　‘He's a bit late，’said Peter，‘but I think he's walked more slowly these last few days，mother．’

　　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．’

　　‘So have I，’cried Peter．‘Often！’

　　‘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．

　　‘It'll be ready long before Sunday，won't it？’he said．

　　‘Sunday！You went there today，then，Bob？’asked his wife．

　　‘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．

　　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．

　　‘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？’

　　‘Never，father！’they all cried．

　　‘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！’

　　‘We will， father！’they all cried again．

　　‘I am very happy， said Bob．‘I am very happy！’mrs Cratchit kissed him，his daughters kissed him，the two young Cratchits kissed him， and he and Peter shook hands．Tiny Tim，your goodness lives on in your family！

　　‘Spirit，’said Scrooge，‘I know that you will leave me soon．Tell me who that dead man on the bed was！’

　　No answer came in words， but the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come took Scrooge through the streets of London again．

　　‘Wait a moment，’said Scrooge．‘We're passing my office．Let me see how I shall look in the future！’

　　The spirit stopped．Its hand was pointing away from the office．But Scrooge hurried up to the window and looked in．It was an office still， but not his．The furniture was not the same，and the figure in the chair was not himself．The ghost continued to point onwards，and Scrooge followed．They reached a church， and entered the churchyard．Here， among the untidy graves and the uncut grass，lay the miserable man whose name Scrooge would soon learn．It was a lonely place， most suitable for a man so unloved．

　　The spirit stood and pointed down at one of the graves．

　　Scrooge was strangely afraid．

　　‘Before I look more closely at that gravestone，’he said， ‘answer me one question．Are these the shadows of the things that will be，or are they only shadows of the things that may be？’

　　Without replying， the ghost pointed silently down at the grave．Scrooge moved slowly towards it，and following the finger，read on the stone his own name， EBENEZER SCROOGE．

　　‘Am I that man who was lying on the bed？’he cried．

　　The spirit pointed from the grave to him，and back again．

　　‘No，spirit！ Oh， no，no！’

　　The finger was still there．

　　Scrooge fell to the ground in front of the ghost，holding its long dark robe．‘Spirit！Listen！I am a changed man ！I have learnt my lesson from you spirits！Why show me this terrible end，if there is no hope for me！’

　　For the first time the hand appeared to shake．

　　‘Good spirit，tell me that my future will change，if I change my life now！’

　　The kind hand shook again．

　　‘I will remember the past，and think of the future．I will be good to other people．I will keep Christmas in my heart，and will try to be kind，ad cheerful，and merry，every day．Oh，tell me I can clean away the writing on this stone！’

　　Wildly，he caught the ghostly hand and held it for a moment．But the spirit was stronger than him， and pulled its hand away．Just then Scrooge noticed that something strange was happening to the spirit．It was getting smaller and smaller， and suddenly it became—a bedpost．

　　4．最后一位幽灵

　　“第三位幽灵将在午夜的时候到来。”斯克罗吉突然记起雅各布·马利幽灵的话，他抬起眼睛，看见了一个幽灵，身着黑衣服，慢慢地朝他走来。它个头很高，一声不响，一件长长的黑袍蒙住了他的头和身体。当它走近的时候，它停住了，并用一只手朝前指着。斯克罗吉对这个幽灵的恐惧胜过前面所有的，他用颤抖的声音问道，“你是来日的圣诞幽灵吗？”幽灵既不讲话也不走开，但还是朝前指着。

　　“你是不是要给我看那些尚未发生的但将来会发生的事情的幻影？”斯克罗吉问。

　　仍然没有应答。

　　“未来的鬼魂！”他继续说。“你把我吓坏了，但我想你能帮我改变我的生活。如果你能为我指明未来的话，我会很感激你的。你难道不跟我讲话吗？”

　　还是没有回答。

　　“那好吧，幽灵，就给我指出我的出路吧。”斯克罗吉最后说。“夜晚马上就要结束，时间对我来说很珍贵，我知道。”

　　鬼魂走开了，斯克罗吉跟着它的影子。突然他们来到了市中心，周围都是商人和放债人。鬼魂指了指一小群人，斯克罗吉便走上前听着他们的谈话。

　　“不，这件事我知道的不多。”一个胖子说。“我只知道他死了。”

　　“他什么时候死的？”另一个人问。

　　“昨天晚上，我想。”

　　“怎么了，他出了什么事？”第三个人问道。

　　“我不知道，”胖子回答说，看上去很不耐烦。“管他呢？”

　　“他的钱怎么处理了？”一位红脸先生问。

　　“我没听说，”胖子说，“我只知道他没把钱留给我。”

　　听了这话他们都笑了。斯克罗吉认识这些人，他看着幽灵，希望它能解释解释他们的谈话是什么意思。但鬼魂继续朝前走，又指着另外两个人。斯克罗吉又听了他们在说什么。他很熟悉这些人。他们有钱又都是要人，他经常和他们做生意。

　　“你好？”一个人说。

　　“你好？”另一个回答道。

　　“哎！”第一个人说。“这老头儿终于死了，不是吗？”

　　“别人是这么告诉我的，”第二个人回答说。“好冷啊，不是吗？”

　　“对圣诞节来说很不错而且还有霜。早上好。”

　　再没有回答声，他们的会面到此结束。

　　斯克罗吉不知道为什么幽灵想让他听这些谈话。他们是什么意思呢？那个死人不可能是他的合伙人雅各布，因为他已经死了。斯克罗吉认真地看着试图搞个明白。他朝四周看了看找他自己的影子，但哪儿也找不到。“也许这不足为奇，”他想，“因为如果我改变我的生活，当然我正打算这样做，将来我就会成为另一个人了！”这时他看到了幽灵，静静地、幽暗地站在他身边，手指着什么地方。他感到那双他看不见的眼睛正从黑袍子后目不转睛地盯着他。斯克罗吉浑身颤抖，他觉得冷。

　　他们离开了繁忙的办公室和银行来到了都市的另一边，斯克罗吉以前从没有来过这里。街道又窄又脏，房子破烂不堪，人们连脸都没有洗而且衣不蔽体。往南过一条马路有一个小商店，里面坐着一个老头等待着顾客的光临。他的生意是收购旧家具和衣服然后再卖给伦敦最穷的人。当斯克罗吉和幽灵看着的时候，有三个妇女同时来到了商店门口，每个人都拿着一个大包袱。她们相见后感到很吃惊又有些难为情。突然她们开始大笑。

　　“女士们，这是你们会面的最好的地方，”老头乔说着，站了起来。“进来，给我看看你们要卖什么。”

　　在屋里第一个妇女把她的包袱放在桌子上说，“我不在乎是不是大家都知道这是从什么地方弄来的！我们都得关心我们自己！他总是这样做的！”

　　“你说得对。”第二个女人表示赞同。

　　“太正确了。”第三个也表示赞同。

　　“死人需要这些东西吗？”第一个女人继续说。“为什么他活着的时候那么吝啬？我们都给他干活儿，是不是？打扫他的房子，给他洗衣服、燉汤？我们又得到什么了呢？一周三个先令！他孤单单地死了，身边一个朋友也没有，这也就没什么可奇怪的了！”

　　“你从没有说过比这更千真万确的话。”第二个妇女说。

　　“他是一个坏蛋，这点我们都知道。”第三个妇女说。

　　“现在让我看看你们都拿来了些什么？”老乔说着打开了三位的包。“钮扣、铅笔、靴子、银匙、一些很不错的床罩、毯子还有——一件很好的衬衣，”他补充道，手摸着那质地精良的棉布。

　　“是的，这是他最好的衣服。”第一个女人说，“他死后他们给他穿上了，但既然他已经死了，所以他现在不需要它了！这些毯子和床罩！他也不需要它们了！”

　　“你从死尸上脱下了这件衬衣，从他一直睡觉的床上拿了这些毯子和床罩！哎，哎！”乔边说边摇头，“这是给你的钱。”他数出几个先令塞到这几个妇女的手中。

　　“哈哈哈！”第一个妇女笑了，“他活着的时候把大家都吓跑了，现在他死了我们还能从他身上挣到钱！哈哈哈！”

　　斯克罗吉既感到懊丧又感到气愤。“幽灵，”他说，“现在我明白了，那个不幸的人可能就是我。天哪，这是什么？”

　　乔和女人们消失了，斯克罗吉站在一间黑屋子里。他对面有一张床，上面没有毯子和床罩。一束光从上面照下来，照在死尸上，死尸用单子盖着。

　　斯克罗吉想，“死时身边没有朋友和家人，被剥光了衣服躺在空屋子里，没有蜡烛和鲜花，知道自己不被人爱是因为他在世时不曾爱过别人，这是多么悲哀的事情啊！金钱买不到幸福的生活和安宁的死亡。”他看着幽灵，手指着那个男人被盖住的脸。要想揭开单子看看那个男人是谁是件轻而易举的事，但由于某种原因斯克罗吉不能这样做。

　　“幽灵，”他说，“这个地方太可怕了。咱们走吧。”

　　鬼魂一动不动的指头依旧指着男人的头。

　　“我理解你，但我不能看他，幽灵，不能！”斯克罗吉发疯似地说。“如果这个镇上有谁对这个人的死有任何感触的话，请你带我去看他，幽灵。”

　　幽灵把黑袍子掀起了一会儿，像个翅膀，带斯克罗吉看了一个屋子，里面坐着一位母亲和她的孩子们。年轻的母亲一直看着钟表，当她的丈夫回来时，她赶快上前去迎他。

　　“有什么消息吗？”她焦虑地问，“是好消息还是坏消息？”

　　“还有希望，卡罗琳。”他回答说。

　　“怎么还有希望呢？如果那个刻薄吝啬的人想让我们现在立刻还钱的话，他们就会把我们送到拘留所！我们没有那么多钱还他。”

　　“他死了，卡罗琳。”她丈夫回答说。

　　“这得感谢上帝！”少妇发自内心地高声说。立刻她意识到她说的话不对。“噢，我不是这个意思，谁死了我都会难过的。”

　　“也许他生意的继承人会多给我们一些时间还钱的，到那时我们就能有这笔钱了。今天晚上我们能睡个好觉了，卡罗琳！”

　　“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。”

　　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。

　　“这颜色刺得我的眼睛都疼了，”她说。这颜色？啊，可怜的小蒂姆！

　　“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。”

　　“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。”

　　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。”

　　“我也知道，”彼得大声说。“经常是这样！”

　　“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。

　　“星期日之前能做好，不是吗？”他问道。

　　“星期日！那么你今天去那儿了，鲍勃？”他妻子问。

　　“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。

　　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。

　　“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？”

　　“永远不会的，爸爸！”他们都哭了。

　　“我知道，”鲍勃说，“当我们记起他是何等的有耐心何等的彬彬有礼时，尽管他还是个小孩子，我们的看法还是一致的。我们将会记住小蒂姆，并互爱。”

　　“我们会的，爸爸！”他们又都哭了。

　　“我很高兴，”鲍勃说。“我很高兴！”克拉奇蒂太太吻了他，他的女儿们吻了他，两个小克拉奇蒂吻了他，他和彼得握了手。小蒂姆，你的美德会永驻于你的家庭中的！

　　“幽灵，”斯克罗吉说，“我知道一会儿你就要离开我了。告诉我床上的死人是谁！”

　　没有回答的声音，但“来日圣诞”鬼魂带着斯克罗吉再一次地穿越了伦敦的大街。

　　“等一会儿，”斯克罗吉说。“我们正在经过我的办公室，让我看看我将来是什么样子！”

　　幽灵停了下来。它的手并没有指着办公室但斯克罗吉匆忙走到窗前往里看了看，还是间办公室，但已不属于他了。家具变了，椅子里坐着的也不是他自己了。鬼魂继续朝前指，斯克罗吉跟着。他们来到一座教堂前，进了教堂的院落。在这里不整齐的坟墓和未修剪的杂草中躺着一个可怜的人，一会儿斯克罗吉就会知道他是谁。这是一个冷清的地方，对一个如此不受爱戴的人来说这儿再合适不过了。

　　幽灵站在那儿，朝下指着其中的一个坟墓。斯克罗吉感到莫名的恐惧。

　　“在我更仔细地看墓碑前，”他说，“回答我一个问题。这些影子是将来会实现的事情还是可能会实现的事情？”

　　鬼魂没有回答，它默默地朝下指着坟墓。斯克罗吉慢慢地向它走去，顺着幽灵手指头的方向，他看见墓碑上写着他自己的夕字：埃比尼泽·斯克罗吉。

　　“我就是那个躺在床上的人吗？”他大声问。

　　幽灵从坟墓指向他，然后又指向坟墓。

　　“不，幽灵！噢，不，不！”

　　手指依然还是指着坟墓。

　　斯克罗吉倒在鬼魂前面的地上，抓住它长长的黑袍子。“幽灵！听着！我是一个改过自新的人了！我从你们这些幽灵身上吸取了教训！如果我没有希望的话，为什么要让我看如此可怕的结局！”

　　他的手第一次颤抖起来。

　　“我的好幽灵，告诉我如果我现在改变我的生活，我的未来也会改变的！”

　　他善良的手有些颤抖了。

　　“我将记住过去，并且会为未来考虑的。我会对他人行善的，我会把圣诞记在心中并尽可能的善良、高兴、快乐，每天都这样。噢，对我说我能够把这石头上的名字弄掉！”