tave xe（第2/2页）
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“Don’tbecross，uncle！”saidthenephew。
“WhatelsecanIbe，”returnedtheuncle，“whenIliveinsuchaworldoffoolsasthis？MerryChristmas！OutuponmerryChristmas！What’sChristmastimetoyoubutatimeforpayingbillswithoutmoney；atimeforfindingyourselfayearolder，andnotanhourricher；atimeforbalancingyourbooksandhavingeveryitemin’emthrougharounddozenofmonthspresenteddeadagainstyou？IfIcouldworkmywill，”saidScroogeindignantly，“everyidiotwhogoesaboutwith‘MerryChristmas’onhislips，shouldbeboiledwithhisownpudding，andburiedwithastakeofhollythroughhisheart。Heshould！”
“Uncle！”pleadedthenephew。
“Nephew！”returnedtheunclesternly，‘‘keepChristmasinyourownway，andletmekeepitinmine。”
“Keepit！”repeatedScrooge’snephew。“Butyoudon’tkeepit。”
“Letmeleaveitalone，then，”saidScrooge。“Muchgoodmayitdoyou！Muchgoodithaseverdoneyou！”
“TherearemanythingsfromwhichImighthavederivedgood，bywhichIhavenotprofited，Idaresay，”returnedthenephew—“Christmasamongtherest。ButIamsureIhavealwaysthoughtofChristmastime，whenithascomeround—apartfromthevenerationduetoitssacrednameandorigin，ifanythingbelongingtoitcanbeapartfromthat—asagoodtime；akind，forgiving，charitable，pleasanttime；theonlytimeIknowof，inthelongcalendaroftheyear，whenmenandwomenseembyoneconsenttoopentheirshut-upheartsfreely，andtothinkofpeoplebelowthemasiftheyreallywerefellow-passengerstothegrave，andnotanotherraceofcreaturesboundonotherjourneys。Andtherefore，uncle，thoughithasneverputascrapofgoldorsilverinmypocket，Ibelievethatithasdonemegood，andwilldomegood；andIsay，Godblessit！”
Theclerkinthetankinvoluntarilyapplauded。Becomingimmediatelysensibleoftheimpropriety，hepokedthefire，andextinguishedthelastfrailsparkforever。
“Letmehearanothersoundfromyou，”saidScrooge，“andyou’llkeepyourChristmasbylosingyoursituation！You’requiteapowerfulspeaker，sir，”headded，turningtohisnephew。“Iwonderyoudon’tgointoParliament。，’
“Don’tbeangry，uncle。Come！Dinewithusto-morrow。”
Scroogesaidthathewouldseehim—Yes，indeedhedid。Hewentthewholelengthofthatexpression，andsaidthathewouldseehiminthatextremityfirst。
“Butwhy？”criedScrooge’snephew。“Why？”
“Whydidyougetmarried？”saidScrooge。
“BecauseIfellinlove。”
“Becauseyoufellinlove！”growledScrooge，asifthatweretheonlyonethingintheworldmoreridiculousthanaMerryChristmas。“Good-afternoon！”
“Nay，uncle，butyounevercametoseemebeforethathappened。Whygiveitasareasonfornotcomingnow？”
“Good-afternoon，”saidScrooge。
“Iwantnothingfromyou；Iasknothingofyou；whycannotwebefriends？”
“Good-afternoon，”saidScrooge。
“Iamsorry，withallmyheart，tofindyousoresolute。Wehaveneverhadanyquarrel，towhichIhavebeenaparty。ButIhavemadethetrialinhomagetoChristmas，andI’llkeepmyChristmashumourtothelast。SoaMerryChristmas，uncle！”
《圣诞颂歌英文》tave xe（第2/2页）