Рождественская история

           Butnow,theplatesbeingchangedbyMissBelinda,MrsCratchitlefttheroomalone—toonervoustobearwitnesses—totakethepuddingupandbringitin.

           Supposeitshouldnotbedoneenough?Supposeitshouldbreakinturningout?Supposesomebodyshouldhavegotoverthewalloftheback-yard,andstolenit,whiletheyweremerrywiththegoose—asuppositionatwhichthetwoyoungCratchitsbecamelivid.Allsortsofhorrorsweresupposed.

           Hallo!Agreatdealofsteam.Thepuddingwasoutofthecopper.Asmelllikeawashing-day!Thatwasthecloth.Asmelllikeaneating-houseandapastrycook’snextdoortoeachother,withalaundress’snextdoortothat!Thatwasthepudding.InhalfaminuteMrsCratchitentered—flushed,butsmilingproudly—withthepudding,likeaspeckledcannon-ball,sohardandfirm,blazinginhalfofhalf-a-quarternofignitedbrandy,andbedightwithChristmashollystuckintothetop.

           Oh,awonderfulpudding.BobCratchitsaid,andcalmlytoo,thatheregardeditasthegreatestsuccessachievedbyMrsCratchitsincetheirmarriage.MrsCratchitsaidthatnowtheweightwasoffhermind,shewouldconfessshehadhadherdoubtsaboutthequantityofflour.Everybodyhadsomethingtosayaboutit,butnobodysaidorthoughtitwasatallasmallpuddingforalargefamily.Itwouldhavebeenflatheresytodoso.AnyCratchitwouldhaveblushedtohintatsuchathing.

           Atlastthedinnerwasalldone,theclothwascleared,thehearthswept,andthefiremadeup.