Різдвяна історія
Chapter 2
Andwhat’shisname,whowasputdowninhisdrawers,asleep,attheGateofDamascus;don’tyouseehim.AndtheSultan’sGroomturnedupsidedownbytheGenii;thereheisuponhishead.Servehimright!I’mgladofit.WhatbusinesshadhetobemarriedtothePrincess?’
TohearScroogeexpendingalltheearnestnessofhisnatureonsuchsubjects,inamostextraordinaryvoicebetweenlaughingandcrying;andtoseehisheightenedandexcitedfacewouldhavebeenasurprisetohisbusinessfriendsinthecity,indeed.
‘There’stheParrot!’criedScrooge.‘Greenbodyandyellowtail,withathinglikealettucegrowingoutofthetopofhishead;thereheis.PoorRobinCrusoe,hecalledhim,whenhecamehomeagainaftersailingroundtheisland."PoorRobinCrusoe,wherehaveyoubeen,RobinCrusoe."Themanthoughthewasdreaming,buthewasn’t.ItwastheParrot,youknow.TheregoesFriday,runningforhislifetothelittlecreek.Halloa!Hoop!Hallo!’
Then,witharapidityoftransitionveryforeigntohisusualcharacter,hesaid,inpityforhisformerself,‘Poorboy!’andcriedagain.
‘Iwish,’Scroogemuttered,puttinghishandinhispocket,andlookingabouthim,afterdryinghiseyeswithhiscuff:‘butit’stoolatenow.’
‘Whatisthematter?’askedtheSpirit.
‘Nothing,’saidScrooge.‘Nothing.TherewasaboysingingaChristmasCarolatmydoorlastnight.Ishouldliketohavegivenhimsomething:that’sall.’
