'How are you?' said one.
“你好？”一个人说。
'How are you?' replied the other.
“你好？”另一个回答道。
'Well!' said the first. 'The old man has died at last, has he?'
“哎！”第一个人说。“这老头儿终于死了，不是吗？”
'So they tell me,' replied the second. 'Cold, isn't it?'
“别人是这么告诉我的，”第二个人回答说。“好冷啊，不是吗？”
'Nice and frosty for Christmas. Good morning!'
“对圣诞节来说很不错而且还有霜。早上好。”
Not another word. That was the end of their meeting.
再没有回答声，他们的会面到此结束。
Scrooge wondered why the spirit wanted him to hear these conversations. What could they mean?
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？
The dead man could not be his partner Jacob, because he was already dead.
那个死人不可能是他的合伙人雅各布，因为他已经死了。
Scrooge watched carefully, trying to understand.
斯克罗吉认真地看着试图搞个明白。
He looked round for his own shadow, but could not see himself anywhere.
他朝四周看了看找他自己的影子，但哪儿也找不到。
'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!'
“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！”
Just then he noticed the spirit, standing quiet and dark beside him, with its pointing hand.
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。
He felt the unseen eyes staring fixedly at him behind the black robe.
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。
Scrooge's body shook, and he felt cold.
斯克罗吉浑身颤抖，他觉得冷。
They left the busy offices and banks, and went to another part of the capital, where Scrooge had never been before.
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。
The streets were narrow and dirty, the houses miserably poor, the people unwashed and half-dressed.
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。
Down one street there was a small shop, where an old man was sitting waiting for customers.
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。
His business was buying old furniture or clothes, and selling them again, to the poorest people in London.
他的生意是收购旧家具和衣服然后再卖给伦敦最穷的人。
As Scrooge and the spirit watched, three women arrived at the shop door at the same time, each carrying a large bundle.
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。
They looked very surprised and a little ashamed to see each other.
她们相见后感到很吃惊又有些难为情。
Suddenly they all started laughing.
突然她们开始大笑。
'Ladies, you couldn't find a better place to meet,' said Joe, the old man, getting up.
“女士们，这是你们会面的最好的地方，”老头乔说着，站了起来。
'Now come inside, and show me what you've got to sell.'
“进来，给我看看你们要卖什么。”