Різдвяна історія
Chapter 3
Fortheysaid,itwasashametoquarreluponChristmasDay.Andsoitwas.Godloveit,soitwas.
Intimethebellsceased,andthebakerswereshutup;andyettherewasagenialshadowingforthofallthesedinnersandtheprogressoftheircooking,inthethawedblotchofwetaboveeachbaker’soven;wherethepavementsmokedasifitsstoneswerecookingtoo.
‘Isthereapeculiarflavourinwhatyousprinklefromyourtorch?’askedScrooge.
‘Thereis.Myown.’
‘Woulditapplytoanykindofdinneronthisday?’askedScrooge.
‘Toanykindlygiven.Toapooronemost.’
‘Whytoapooronemost?’askedScrooge.
‘Becauseitneedsitmost.’
‘Spirit,’saidScrooge,afteramoment’sthought,‘Iwonderyou,ofallthebeingsinthemanyworldsaboutus,shoulddesiretocrampthesepeople’sopportunitiesofinnocentenjoyment.’
‘I?’criedtheSpirit.
‘Youwoulddeprivethemoftheirmeansofdiningeveryseventhday,oftentheonlydayonwhichtheycanbesaidtodineatall,’saidScrooge.‘Wouldn’tyou?’
‘I?’criedtheSpirit.
‘YouseektoclosetheseplacesontheSeventhDay,’saidScrooge.‘Anditcomestothesamething!’
‘Iseek?’exclaimedtheSpirit.
‘ForgivemeifIamwrong.Ithasbeendoneinyourname,oratleastinthatofyourfamily,’saidScrooge.
