Рождественская история
Chapter 3
MrsCratchitmadethegravy(readybeforehandinalittlesaucepan)hissinghot;MasterPetermashedthepotatoeswithincrediblevigour;MissBelindasweeteneduptheapple-sauce;Marthadustedthehotplates;BobtookTinyTimbesidehiminatinycorneratthetable;thetwoyoungCratchitssetchairsforeverybody,notforgettingthemselves,andmountingguardupontheirposts,crammedspoonsintotheirmouths,lesttheyshouldshriekforgoosebeforetheirturncametobehelped.Atlastthedisheswereseton,andgracewassaid.Itwassucceededbyabreathlesspause,asMrsCratchit,lookingslowlyallalongthecarving-knife,preparedtoplungeitinthebreast;butwhenshedid,andwhenthelongexpectedgushofstuffingissuedforth,onemurmurofdelightaroseallroundtheboard,andevenTinyTim,excitedbythetwoyoungCratchits,beatonthetablewiththehandleofhisknife,andfeeblycriedHurrah!
Thereneverwassuchagoose.Bobsaidhedidn’tbelievethereeverwassuchagoosecooked.Itstendernessandflavour,sizeandcheapness,werethethemesofuniversaladmiration.Ekedoutbyapple-sauceandmashedpotatoes,itwasasufficientdinnerforthewholefamily;indeed,asMrsCratchitsaidwithgreatdelight(surveyingonesmallatomofaboneuponthedish),theyhadn’tateitallatlast.Yeteveryonehadhadenough,andtheyoungestCratchitsinparticular,weresteepedinsageandoniontotheeyebrows.
