Різдвяна історія
Chapter 5
Scroogehadforgotten,forthemoment,abouthersittinginthecornerwiththefootstool,orhewouldn’thavedoneit,onanyaccount.
‘Whyblessmysoul!’criedFred,‘Who’sthat?’
‘It’sI.YouruncleScrooge.Ihavecometodinner.Willyouletmein,Fred?’
Lethimin!Itisamercyhedidn’tshakehisarmoff!Hewasathomeinfiveminutes.Nothingcouldbeheartier.Hisniecelookedjustthesame.SodidTopperwhenhecame.Sodidtheplumpsisterwhenshecame.Sodideveryonewhentheycame.Wonderfulparty,wonderfulgames,wonderfulunanimity,wonderfulhappiness.
Buthewasearlyattheofficenextmorning.Oh,hewasearlythere.Ifhecouldonlybetherefirst,andcatchBobCratchitcominglate.Thatwasthethinghehadsethisheartupon.
Andhedidit;yes,hedid.Theclockstrucknine.NoBob.Aquarterpast.NoBob.Hewasfulleighteenminutesandahalfbehindhistime.Scroogesatwithhisdoorwideopen,thathemightseehimcomeintotheTank.
Hishatwasoff,beforeheopenedthedoor;hiscomfortertoo.Hewasonhisstoolinajiffy;drivingawaywithhispen,asifheweretryingtoovertakenineo’clock.
‘Hallo!’growledScrooge,inhisaccustomedvoice,asnearashecouldfeignit.‘Whatdoyoumeanbycominghereatthistimeofday?’
‘Iamverysorry,sir,’saidBob.‘Iambehindmytime.’
‘Youare,’repeatedScrooge.‘Yes.Ithinkyouare.Stepthisway,sir,ifyouplease.’
‘It’sonlyonceayear,sir,’pleadedBob,appearingfromtheTank.‘Itshallnotberepeated.
