Різдвяна історія

           Everybodyelsesaidthesame,andtheymustbeallowedtohavebeencompetentjudges,becausetheyhadjusthaddinner;and,withthedessertuponthetable,wereclusteredroundthefire,bylamplight.

           ‘Well,I’mverygladtohearit,’saidScrooge’snephew,‘becauseIhaven’tgreatfaithintheseyounghousekeepers.Whatdoyousay,Topper?’

           TopperhadclearlygothiseyeupononeofScrooge’sniece’ssisters,forheansweredthatabachelorwasawretchedoutcast,whohadnorighttoexpressanopiniononthesubject.WhereatScrooge’sniece’ssister—theplumponewiththelacetucker:nottheonewiththeroses—blushed.

           ‘Dogoon,Fred,’saidScrooge’sniece,clappingherhands.‘Heneverfinisheswhathebeginstosay.Heissucharidiculousfellow!’

           Scrooge’snephewrevelledinanotherlaugh,andasitwasimpossibletokeeptheinfectionoff;thoughtheplumpsistertriedhardtodoitwitharomaticvinegar;hisexamplewasunanimouslyfollowed.

           ‘Iwasonlygoingtosay,’saidScrooge’snephew,‘thattheconsequenceofhistakingadisliketous,andnotmakingmerrywithus,is,asIthink,thathelosessomepleasantmoments,whichcoulddohimnoharm.Iamsurehelosespleasantercompanionsthanhecanfindinhisownthoughts,eitherinhismouldyoldoffice,orhisdustychambers.Imeantogivehimthesamechanceeveryyear,whetherhelikesitornot,forIpityhim.