Різдвяна історія

           Withadimpled,surprised-looking,capitalface;aripelittlemouth,thatseemedmadetobekissed—asnodoubtitwas;allkindsofgoodlittledotsaboutherchin,thatmeltedintooneanotherwhenshelaughed;andthesunniestpairofeyesyoueversawinanylittlecreature’shead.Altogethershewaswhatyouwouldhavecalledprovoking,youknow;butsatisfactory.

           ‘He’sacomicaloldfellow,’saidScrooge’snephew,‘that’sthetruth:andnotsopleasantashemightbe.However,hisoffencescarrytheirownpunishment,andIhavenothingtosayagainsthim.’

           ‘I’msureheisveryrich,Fred,’hintedScrooge’sniece.‘Atleastyoualwaystellmeso.’

           ‘Whatofthat,mydear?’saidScrooge’snephew.‘Hiswealthisofnousetohim!Hedon’tdoanygoodwithit.Hedon’tmakehimselfcomfortablewithit.Hehasn’tthesatisfactionofthinking—ha,ha,ha!—thatheisevergoingtobenefituswithit!’

           ‘Ihavenopatiencewithhim,’observedScrooge’sniece.Scrooge’sniece’ssisters,andalltheotherladies,expressedthesameopinion.

           ‘Oh,Ihave,’saidScrooge’snephew.‘Iamsorryforhim;Icouldn’tbeangrywithhimifItried.Whosuffersbyhisillwhims?Himself,always.Here,hetakesitintohisheadtodislikeus,andhewon’tcomeanddinewithus.What’stheconsequence?Hedon’tlosemuchofadinner!’

           ‘Indeed,Ithinkhelosesaverygooddinner,’interruptedScrooge’sniece.