熊猫头鬼故事多人系列（听读三幽灵中的第一位）

熊猫头鬼故事多人系列（听读三幽灵中的第一位）Twelve o'clock! It was past two in the morning when he had gone to bed.令他大吃一惊的是，沉重的钟声一直敲了12下，然后停了。He heard the church clock start striking and listened to see what the time was.他听见教堂的钟声响了，他听着想知道是几点了。To his great surprise the heavy bell went on striking up to twelve then stopped.

★ 第3章 ★

When Scrooge woke up it was very dark in the room.

当斯克罗吉醒来的时候，房间里黑极了。

He heard the church clock start striking and listened to see what the time was.

他听见教堂的钟声响了，他听着想知道是几点了。

To his great surprise the heavy bell went on striking up to twelve then stopped.

令他大吃一惊的是，沉重的钟声一直敲了12下，然后停了。

Twelve o'clock! It was past two in the morning when he had gone to bed.

12点了!他上床睡觉的时候已经是凌晨2点了。

The clock must be wrong! He looked at his watch. It said twelve o'clock too!

一定是钟出了问题!他看了看他的手表，也是12点。

'Have I slept all day? Is it the next night already?' scrooge asked himself.

“我睡了一整天吗?难道已经是第二天夜里了吗?”斯克罗吉问自己。

'Or has something happened to the sun? Perhaps it's midday not midnight! But that impossible!'

“或者是太阳出了问题?也许是正午而不是午夜!但那又不太可能。”

He climbed out of bed and felt his way to the window.

他下了床，摸黑来到窗前，

But there was nobody outside in the dark foggy streets and he realized it must be night-time.

但外面漆黑的、雾蒙蒙的街上一个人也没有，他知道一定是晚上。

He went back to bed again but could not sleep.

他又上了床，但是却睡不着。

He was worried because he could not understand what was happening.

他忧心忡忡，因为他不明白正在发生的一切。

'Was Marley's ghost a dream?' he wondered. 'But it seemed very real…'

“马利的鬼魂是梦吗?”他想知道。“但它似乎是真的。”

He lay awake until he heard the clock striking a quarter to the hour.

他睁着眼睛躺着直到听见钟敲45分。

Suddenly he remembered.

突然他记起了。

The ghost had warned him that a spirit would visit him at one o'clock.

鬼魂曾警告过他1点钟时有个幽灵要来见他。

He decided to stay awake until one o'clock had passed.

他决定睁眼等到1点钟过去。

The quarter of an hour passed very slowly but at last he heard the clock striking the four quarters.

15分钟过得极慢，但最后他终于听到钟敲了4刻。

'It's one o'clock!' cried Scrooge delightedly 'and nothing has happened!'

“1点了!”斯克罗吉高兴地大叫道，“而且什么也没发生!”

But he spoke before the hour bell had sounded.

但他是在整点的铃响之前说这番话的。

The clock now struck a deep sad ONE and immediately light shone into Scrooge's bedroom.

现在钟敲了沉闷悲伤的1点，立刻就有亮光照进了斯克罗吉的卧室。

The curtains around his bed were pulled open.

他床周围的帘子被扯开了。

Scrooge sat up in bed and stared at his ghostly visitor.

斯克罗吉从床上坐起注视着鬼魂般的来访者。

A strange figure half like a child half like an old man looked back at him.

一个奇怪的影子，一半像孩子，一半像老头儿，回头看着他。

It had long white hair but its skin was soft and young.

它的头发又长又白，但它的皮肤柔软而富有弹性。

It wore a short white robe covered with both summer and winter flowers.

它穿着白色的短袍子，上面满是夏季和冬季的花儿。

But the strangest thing about it was that from the top of its head shone a bright clear light.

但最奇怪的是它的头顶上闪耀出明亮的光。

Perhaps this light was sometimes too bright because under one arm it carried a hat which looked like a large extinguisher.

也许这光有时太亮了，因为它的一只胳膊下夹着一顶帽子，看上去像是一个大的灭火工具。

'Who and what are you sir?' asked Scrooge.

“你是谁，是干什么的，先生?”斯克罗吉问。

'I am the ghost of Christmas Past ' replied the spirit in a soft gentle voice.

“我是昔日圣诞鬼魂，”幽灵用柔弱、温柔的声音回答说。

'Do you mean long ago in the past?' asked Scrooge.

“你是指过去很久以前吗?”斯克罗吉问。

'No. Your past.'

“不。是你的过去。”

'Spirit please tell me why you are here.'

“幽灵，请告诉我你为什么来这儿。”

'I am here for your own good ' answered the ghost.

“我来这儿纯粹是为了你好，”鬼魂说。

'Thank you ' replied Scrooge politely.

“谢谢你，”斯克罗吉礼貌地回答说，

But secretly he thought 'Bah! A night of unbroken sleep is a more useful thing to have!'

但他心里想，“呸! 睡个一晚上没人打扰的觉比什么都强。”

The spirit seemed to hear him thinking and said at once 'I am here to help you change your life! Watch and listen!'

幽灵似乎懂得了他在想什么，便立刻说，“我来这儿是帮助你改变你的生活的!看好了，听清楚!”

It put out a strong hand and held Scrooge by the arm. 'Get up and come with me!'

它伸出一只强有力的手，抓住斯克罗吉的胳膊。“起来跟我走!”

It was dark and cold outside. Scrooge did not want to go anywhere and for a moment he thought about pretending to be too ill to go out.

外面又黑又冷。斯克罗吉哪儿也不想去，所以一时间他想装成病入膏盲的样子无法出去，

But he did not like to refuse so he said nothing and got out of bed.

但他又不愿拒绝，所以他什么也没说就下了床。

Together they passed through the wall of the house out into the darkness.

他们一起穿过房子的墙壁来到了夜色中。

Suddenly Scrooge realized they were standing on an open country road with fields on each side.

忽然斯克罗吉发觉他们来到了一条空旷的乡间马路上，两边都是田野。

London the fog and the darkness had all disappeared and it was a clear cold winter day with snow on the ground.

伦敦、浓雾和黑夜都已消失，现在是一个晴朗、寒冷的冬日，地上覆盖着积雪。

'Good Heavens!' cried Scrooge. 'I was born near here! I remember it well!'

“天哪!”斯克罗吉喊道。“我出生在这儿附近，我记得很清楚!”

The spirit looked kindly at the old man.

幽灵友善地看着这位老人。

'How strange that you've forgotten it for so many years!

“奇怪得很，这么多年你都把这忘记了!

What is that on your face? Are you crying?'

你脸上是什么?你哭了吗?”

Scrooge put a hand over his eyes.

斯克罗吉用一只手捂住他的眼。

'It's nothing—I've got a cold that's all. Take me where you want spirit!'

“没事儿——只是我得了感冒。幽灵，带我去你想去的地方吧!”

Scrooge recognized every field post and tree as they walked along the road towards a little market town.

在他们去往一个小集镇的路上，斯克罗吉认出了每一片田野，每一处城堡和每一棵树木。

All around them were young schoolboys on horses and in farmers' carts laughing and wishing each other a Merry Christmas as they traveled to their homes for the Christmas holiday.

他们周围到处都是学校的男孩子们，他们有的骑在马上，有的坐在农夫的马车里，在他们赶回家过圣诞节的路上，他们笑着并彼此祝愿圣诞快乐。

'They are only shadows from the past ' said the spirit. 'They cannot see us.'

“他们只不过是过去的影子，”幽灵说。“他们看不见我们。”

Scrooge knew and named all of them.

斯克罗吉全都认识他们，并能叫出他们的名字。

Why was he so delighted to see them?

为什么他看见他们这么高兴?

Why did his cold heart beat faster when they went past shouting 'Merry Christmas!'?

为什么当他们走过，高喊着“圣诞快乐”时，他冷酷的心跳得快了?

What was 'merry Christmas' to Scrooge? What good had it ever done to him?

“圣诞快乐”对斯克罗吉意味着什么?它给他带来了什么好处?

'Not everyone has left the school ' said the ghost.

“不是所有的孩子们都离开了学校，”鬼魂说。

'There is one lonely child there still one child whose friends have all gone.'

“那儿还有一个孤独的孩子，他的朋友们全都走了。”

'I know!' said Scrooge. And now he was crying openly.

“我知道!”斯克罗吉说。现在他毫不掩饰地哭了。

They turned into a smaller road and soon came to the school.

他们拐到了一条更小的路上，不一会儿就来到了学校。

Inside in the long cold silent classroom a lonely boy sat reading near a small fire.

在那间狭长、寒冷、寂静的教室里，一个孤独的孩子正坐在微弱的火旁着书。

When he saw his poor forgotten past self Scrooge sat down at one of the desks put his head in his hands and cried.

当他看见自己那寒酸的、已被忘却的过去的自己时，斯克罗吉坐在一张课桌旁，双手抱头哭了。

'Poor boy! I wish — but it's too late now.'

“可怜的孩子啊! 我希望——但现在太晚了。”

'What's the matter?' asked the spirit.

“什么事?”幽灵问。

'There was a boy singing Christmas carols at my door yesterday.

“昨天有一个男孩子在我的门口唱圣诞颂歌，

I'm sorry I didn't give him anything that's all.'

很抱歉我什么也没给他，就是这事儿。”

The ghost smiled and lifted its hand saying 'Let's see another past Christmas!'

鬼魂笑了，举起一只手说，“咱们再去看看另外一个昔日圣诞节。”

The schoolroom became darker and dirtier.

教室变得更暗更脏了。

There was the young Scrooge again a little older and bigger than before.

那里又出现了年轻的斯克罗吉，比以前稍微长大了一些而且个头高了一些。

He was not reading this time but was walking up and down looking very unhappy.

这次他没在看书，而是来回踱着步，看上去很不高兴。

The door opened and a little girl much younger than him came running in.

门开了，跑进来一个比他小得多的女孩儿。

Putting her arms around his neck she said lovingly to him 'I've come to bring you home dear brother!

她双手搂着他的脖子亲昵地对他说，“我是来带你回家的，亲爱的哥哥!

Father is so much kinder than he used to be!

父亲比从前慈爱多了。

The other day I asked him if you could come home and he said yes!

不久前的一天，我问他你可不可以回家，他答应了!

And we're going to spend Christmas together and have the merriest time!'

我们可以一起过圣诞节了，而且会过得比以前都快活!”

She was laughing delightedly as she began to pull him towards the door.

她开始把他往门口拉并开心地笑着。

They went out happily together hand in hand.

他们手拉着手，一起高兴地出去了。

'What a warm heart she had!' said the ghost.

“她真是热心肠!”鬼魂说。

'You're right ' said Scrooge. 'I agree with you spirit!'

“你说得对。”斯克罗吉说。“我同意你的看法。”

'She married I understand ' continued the ghost 'and had children I think before she died.'

“她结婚了，我知道，”鬼魂继续说，“而且我想，在她死之前有了孩子。”

'One child ' answered Scrooge.

“有一个孩子，”斯克罗吉回答说。

'True ' said the ghost. 'Your nephew!'

“对，”鬼魂说。“你的外甥!”

Scrooge did not answer at once. 'Yes ' he said at last.

斯克罗吉没有马上回答。“是的，”他最后说。

Now the school had disappeared and they were in the middle of a busy town with shadowy crowds and carts all around them.

现在学校不见了，他们来到了一座繁忙的镇子中心，周围都是模糊的人群和马车。

Here it was Christmas time again but it was evening and there were lights in the shops and streets.

这里也是圣诞节的日子，但已是夜晚，商店和大街上都亮起了灯。

The ghost stopped at an office door. 'Do you know this place Scrooge?' he asked.

鬼魂在一个办公室的门前停下。“你认识这个地方吗，斯克罗吉?”它问。

'Know it!' cried Scrooge. 'Why I was a clerk here!'

“认识!”斯克罗吉大声说。“怎么了，我曾是这儿的一名雇员啊!”

They went in and when they saw a large kind-looking old gentleman sitting at a high desk Scrooge cried excitedly 'Good Heavens it's old Fezziwig!

他们走了进去，当他们看见一位身材魁梧、慈眉善目的老绅士坐在一张高高的桌子旁时，斯克罗吉兴奋地喊道，“天哪，他是老费泽威格!

God bless him! It's Fezziwig alive again!'

上帝保佑他!费泽威格又活了!”

Old Fezziwig put down his pen and looked at the clock.

老费泽威格放下笔，看了看表。

Fastening his coat buttons over his fat stomach he started laughing as he called out in a rich deep happy voice

系好覆于其胖肚子上的外衣扣子，他一边用圆润、低沉、幸福的声音大声说：

'Ebenezer! Dick! Seven o'clock! No more work tonight! It's Christmas Eve remember!'

“埃比尼泽!迪克!7点了!今晚就干到这儿了。记得吗，今天是圣诞节!”一边开始笑了起来。

The young Scrooge hurried in with another clerk.

年轻的斯克罗吉带着另一个雇员匆匆地进来了。

'That's Dick Wilkins!' said Scrooge quietly to the ghost.

“这是迪克·威尔金斯!”斯克罗吉悄悄地告诉鬼魂。

'He always liked me. Oh dear! poor Dick!'

“他一直都喜欢我。噢，亲爱的。可怜的迪克!”

Together the two young clerks put away all the pens and papers and following Fezziwig'sorders cleared all the furniture away from the center of the room.

两个年轻的雇员一起把所有的笔和文件都收拾好放到了一边，并按照费泽威格的吩咐把所有的家具都从屋子中央挪开。

In came a fiddler. In came Mrs. Fezziwig fat and smiling.

一个小提琴手走了进来;费泽威格走了进来，胖胖的，面带笑容;

In came the three Fezziwig daughters sweet and pretty.

费泽威格的三个女儿走了进来，她们长得甜甜的而且很漂亮;

In came the six young men who were in love with them.

六个爱着这三位姑娘的年轻人走了进来;

In came the cook with her young man the milkman.

厨师和她年轻的丈夫，送奶工走了进来;

In came the boy from next door with the girl from the house opposite.

隔壁家的男孩，带着对面房子里的女孩走了进来。

In they came some quietly some noisily but all happy because it was Christmas Eve.

他们都进来了，有的静悄悄的，有的吵吵嚷嚷的，但都兴高采烈，因为今天是圣诞节。

《圣诞颂歌》是1843年查尔斯·狄更斯创作的小说，该小说是查尔斯·狄更斯三部圣诞小说之一。

该小说主要讲的是一个吝啬鬼的故事。一个吝啬鬼积攒了很多钱，然而他却不舍得为职员的炉火加一块儿煤，他的侄子好意的邀请他参加圣诞夜的晚会，他却认为侄子是为了占他的便宜而推辞，社会活动者请他为穷人施舍一点圣诞的饭菜，也被他无情地断然拒绝。他晚上回到了家，夜幕里他看见了一张鬼脸，这真的是鬼?还是他的幻像?然而，鬼的出现却使他发生了天翻地覆的变化。