Різдвяна історія
Chapter 1
Hewentthewholelengthoftheexpression,andsaidthathewouldseehiminthatextremityfirst.
‘Butwhy?’criedScrooge’snephew.‘Why?’
‘Whydidyougetmarried?’saidScrooge.
‘BecauseIfellinlove.’
‘Becauseyoufellinlove!’growledScrooge,asifthatweretheonlyonethingintheworldmoreridiculousthanamerryChristmas.‘Goodafternoon!’
‘Nay,uncle,butyounevercametoseemebeforethathappened.Whygiveitasareasonfornotcomingnow?’
‘Goodafternoon,’saidScrooge.
‘Iwantnothingfromyou;Iasknothingofyou;whycannotwebefriends?’
‘Goodafternoon,’saidScrooge.
‘Iamsorry,withallmyheart,tofindyousoresolute.Wehaveneverhadanyquarrel,towhichIhavebeenaparty.ButIhavemadethetrialinhomagetoChristmas,andI’llkeepmyChristmashumourtothelast.SoAMerryChristmas,uncle!’
‘Goodafternoon,’saidScrooge.
‘AndAHappyNewYear!’
‘Goodafternoon,’saidScrooge.
Hisnephewlefttheroomwithoutanangryword,notwithstanding.Hestoppedattheouterdoortobestowthegreetingsoftheseasonontheclerk,whocoldashewas,waswarmerthanScrooge;forhereturnedthemcordially.
‘There’sanotherfellow,’mutteredScrooge;whooverheardhim:‘myclerk,withfifteenshillingsaweek,andawifeandfamily,talkingaboutamerryChristmas.I’llretiretoBedlam.’
Thislunatic,inlettingScrooge’snephewout,hadlettwootherpeoplein.
