Різдвяна історія
Chapter 4
Ifhecouldhavehelpedit,heandhischildwouldhavebeenfartherapartperhapsthantheywere.
Helefttheroom,andwentup-stairsintotheroomabove,whichwaslightedcheerfully,andhungwithChristmas.Therewasachairsetclosebesidethechild,andthereweresignsofsomeonehavingbeenthere,lately.PoorBobsatdowninit,andwhenhehadthoughtalittleandcomposedhimself,hekissedthelittleface.Hewasreconciledtowhathadhappened,andwentdownagainquitehappy.
Theydrewaboutthefire,andtalked;thegirlsandmotherworkingstill.BobtoldthemoftheextraordinarykindnessofMrScrooge’snephew,whomhehadscarcelyseenbutonce,andwho,meetinghiminthestreetthatday,andseeingthathelookedalittle—‘justalittledownyouknow,’saidBob,inquiredwhathadhappenedtodistresshim.‘Onwhich,’saidBob,‘forheisthepleasantest-spokengentlemanyoueverheard,Itoldhim."Iamheartilysorryforit,MrCratchit,"hesaid,"andheartilysorryforyourgoodwife."Bythebye,howheeverknewthat,Idon’tknow.’
‘Knewwhat,mydear?’
‘Why,thatyouwereagoodwife,’repliedBob.
‘Everybodyknowsthat,’saidPeter.
‘Verywellobserved,myboy.’criedBob.‘Ihopetheydo."Heartilysorry,"hesaid,"foryourgoodwife.IfIcanbeofservicetoyouinanyway,"hesaid,givingmehiscard,"that’swhereIlive.Praycometome."
