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“我想，这是斯克罗吉和马利的办公室吧，”其中一位看着手中的文件问到。“你是斯克罗吉先生还是马利先生？”
‘Mr Marley is dead，’scrooge replied．‘He died seven years ago today，on Christmas Eve．’
“马利先生死了，”斯克罗吉回答说。“他是七年前的今天死的，死在圣诞夜。”
‘I'm sure that you are just as kind to the poor as your partner，’said the gentleman，smiling．
“我肯定你对穷人同你的合伙人的态度一样好，”绅士微笑着说。
What was true was that Scrooge was just as mean as Marley，and Marley had been just as mean as Scrooge．
事实是斯克罗吉同马利一样的吝啬，马利在世时也曾和斯克罗吉一样吝啬。
‘At this happy time of year，Mr Scrooge，’the gentleman went on，taking up his pen，‘we should help poor people who have no food or clothes or homes．’
“在一年中这个幸福的日子里，斯克罗吉先生，”绅士拿起笔继续说，我们应该帮助那些没有衣食和无家可归的穷人。”
‘Are there no prisons？’asked Scrooge coldly．
“没有看守所吗？”斯克罗吉冷冷地问。
‘Plenty of prisons，’said the gentleman．
“有很多看守所，”绅士说。
‘And the workhouses，where poor people can live and work？Are they still open？’
“还有可供穷人生活和工作的济贫院呢？它们还开着吗？”
‘Yes，they are，I'm sorry to say．’
“是的，它们开着，很抱歉。”
‘I'm happy to hear It，’said Scrooge．‘I thought，from what you said at first，that perhaps these useful places were closed，for some reason．’
“我很高兴听到这个，”斯克罗吉说。“听你最开始说的，我还以为这些能够提供帮助的地方由于某种原因都关掉了呢。”
‘But some of us feel，’replied the gentleman，‘that these places don't offer enough to poor people．We're hoping to give some meat and drink，and wood for a fire，to people who need all these things．This is a time when we should all be able to enjoy ourselves．How much will you give，sir？’
“但是我们有些人感到，”绅士回答说，“这些地方无法为穷人提供足够的东西。我们希望为那些需要帮助的人提供一些肉类，饮料和柴火。这个时候我们都应该能够过得开心。你能给多少，先生？”
‘Nothing！’scrooge replied．‘I don't have a merry Christmas myself，and I won't pay for other people to be merry．We all have to pay for prisons and workhouses—they cost enough．The poor will have to go there．’
“什么都不给！”斯克罗吉回答说。“我自己圣诞节都不快乐，所以我也不会花钱去让其他人快乐。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。”
