Різдвяна історія
Chapter 5
‘Idon’tknowwhattosaytosuchmunificence.’
‘Don’tsayanything,please,’retortedScrooge.‘Comeandseeme.Willyoucomeandseeme?’
‘Iwill!’criedtheoldgentleman.Anditwasclearhemeanttodoit.
‘Thankyou,’saidScrooge.‘Iammuchobligedtoyou.Ithankyoufiftytimes.Blessyou!’
Hewenttochurch,andwalkedaboutthestreets,andwatchedthepeoplehurryingtoandfro,andpattedchildrenonthehead,andquestionedbeggars,andlookeddownintothekitchensofhouses,anduptothewindows,andfoundthateverythingcouldyieldhimpleasure.Hehadneverdreamedthatanywalk—thatanything—couldgivehimsomuchhappiness.Intheafternoonheturnedhisstepstowardshisnephew’shouse.
Hepassedthedooradozentimes,beforehehadthecouragetogoupandknock.Buthemadeadash,anddidit:
‘Isyourmasterathome,mydear?’saidScroogetothegirl.Nicegirl.Very.
‘Yes,sir.’
‘Whereishe,mylove?’saidScrooge.
‘He’sinthedining-room,sir,alongwithmistress.I’llshowyouup-stairs,ifyouplease.’
‘Thankyou.Heknowsme,’saidScrooge,withhishandalreadyonthedining-roomlock.‘I’llgoinhere,mydear.’
Heturneditgently,andsidledhisfacein,roundthedoor.Theywerelookingatthetable(whichwasspreadoutingreatarray);fortheseyounghousekeepersarealwaysnervousonsuchpoints,andliketoseethateverythingisright.
‘Fred,’saidScrooge.
Dearheartalive,howhisniecebymarriagestarted.
