Різдвяна історія

           ‘Youmay—thememoryofwhatispasthalfmakesmehopeyouwill—havepaininthis.Avery,verybrieftime,andyouwilldismisstherecollectionofit,gladly,asanunprofitabledream,fromwhichithappenedwellthatyouawoke.Mayyoubehappyinthelifeyouhavechosen.’

           Shelefthim,andtheyparted.

           ‘Spirit,’saidScrooge,‘showmenomore.Conductmehome.Whydoyoudelighttotortureme?’

           ‘Oneshadowmore,’exclaimedtheGhost.

           ‘Nomore!’criedScrooge.‘Nomore,Idon’twishtoseeit.Showmenomore.’

           ButtherelentlessGhostpinionedhiminbothhisarms,andforcedhimtoobservewhathappenednext.

           Theywereinanothersceneandplace;aroom,notverylargeorhandsome,butfullofcomfort.Neartothewinterfiresatabeautifulyounggirl,solikethatlastthatScroogebelieveditwasthesame,untilhesawher,nowacomelymatron,sittingoppositeherdaughter.Thenoiseinthisroomwasperfectlytumultuous,forthereweremorechildrenthere,thanScroogeinhisagitatedstateofmindcouldcount;and,unlikethecelebratedherdinthepoem,theywerenotfortychildrenconductingthemselveslikeone,buteverychildwasconductingitselflikeforty.Theconsequenceswereuproariousbeyondbelief;butnooneseemedtocare;onthecontrary,themotheranddaughterlaughedheartily,andenjoyeditverymuch;andthelatter,soonbeginningtomingleinthesports,gotpillagedbytheyoungbrigandsmostruthlessly.WhatwouldInothavegiventooneofthem!ThoughInevercouldhavebeensorude,no,no.