Різдвяна історія
Chapter 4
Uponthefloorwithin,werepiledupheapsofrustykeys,nails,chains,hinges,files,scales,weights,andrefuseironofallkinds.Secretsthatfewwouldliketoscrutinisewerebredandhiddeninmountainsofunseemlyrags,massesofcorruptedfat,andsepulchresofbones.Sittinginamongthewareshedealtin,byacharcoalstove,madeofoldbricks,wasagrey-hairedrascal,nearlyseventyyearsofage;whohadscreenedhimselffromthecoldairwithout,byafrousycurtainingofmiscellaneoustatters,hunguponaline;andsmokedhispipeinalltheluxuryofcalmretirement.
ScroogeandthePhantomcameintothepresenceofthisman,justasawomanwithaheavybundleslunkintotheshop.Butshehadscarcelyentered,whenanotherwoman,similarlyladen,cameintoo;andshewascloselyfollowedbyamaninfadedblack,whowasnolessstartledbythesightofthem,thantheyhadbeenupontherecognitionofeachother.Afterashortperiodofblankastonishment,inwhichtheoldmanwiththepipehadjoinedthem,theyallthreeburstintoalaugh.
‘Letthecharwomanalonetobethefirst!’criedshewhohadenteredfirst.‘Letthelaundressalonetobethesecond;andlettheundertaker’smanalonetobethethird!Lookhere,oldJoe,here’sachance.Ifwehaven’tallthreemetherewithoutmeaningit.’
‘Youcouldn’thavemetinabetterplace,’saidoldJoe,removinghispipefromhismouth.‘Comeintotheparlour.Youweremadefreeofitlongago,youknow;andtheothertwoan’tstrangers.StoptillIshutthedooroftheshop.
