tave five（第2/2页）
木马小说网www.mumahao.com
“I’llsendittoBobCratchit’s！”whisperedScrooge，rubbinghishands，andsplittingwithalaugh。“Heshan’tknowwhosendsitIt’stwicethesizeofTinyTim。JoeMillernevermadesuchajokeassendingittoBob’swillbe！”
Thehandinwhichhewrotetheaddresswasnotasteadyone，butwriteithedid，somehow，andwentdownstairstoopenthestreetdoor，readyforthecomingofthepoulterersman。Ashestoodthere，waitinghisarrival，theknockercaughthiseye。
“Ishallloveit，aslongasIlive！”criedScrooge，pattingitwithhishand。“Iscarcelyeverlookedatitbefore。Whatanhonestexpressionithasinitsface。It’sawonderfulknocker。Here’stheturkey。Hollo！Whoop！Howareyou？MerryChristmas！”
Itwasaturkey！Henevercouldhavestooduponhislegs，thatbird。Hewouldhavesnapped’emshortoffinaminute，likesticksofsealing-wax。
“Why，it’simpossibletocarrythattoCamdenTown，”saidScrooge。“Youmusthaveacab。”Thechucklewithwhichhesaidthis，andthechucklewithwhichhepaidfortheturkey，andthechucklewithwhichhepaidforthecab，andthechucklewithwhichherecompensedtheboy，wereonlytobeexceededbythechucklewithwhichhesatdownbreathlessinhischairagain，andchuckledtillhecried。
Shavingwasnotaneasytask，forhishandcontinuedtoshakeverymuch；andshavingre-quiresattention，evenwhenyoudon’tdancewhileyouareatit。Butifhehadcuttheendofhisnoseoff，hewouldhaveputapieceofsticking-plasteroverit，andbeenquitesatisfied。
Hedressedhimself“allinhisbest，”andatlastgotoutintothestreets。Thepeoplewerebythistimepouringforth，ashehadseenthemwiththeGhostofChristmasPresent；andwalkingwithhishandsbehindhim，Scroogeregardedeveryonewithadelightfulsmile。Helookedsoirresistiblypleasant，inaword，thatthreeorfourgood-humouredfellowssaid，“Good-morning，sir。AMerryChristmastoyou！”AndScroogesaidoftenafterwards，thatofalltheblithesoundshehadeverheard，thoseweretheblithestinhisears。
Hehadnotgonefar，whencomingontowardshimhebeheldtheportlygentlemanwhohadwalkedintohiscounting-housethedaybeforeandsaid，“ScroogeandMariey’s，Ibelieve？”Itsentapangacrosshishearttothinkhowthisoldgentlemanwouldlookuponhimwhentheymet；butheknewwhatpathlaystraightbeforehim，andhetookit。
“Mydearsir，”saidScrooge，quickeninghispace，andtakingtheoldgentlemanbybothhishands。“Howdoyoudo？Ihopeyousucceededyesterday。Itwasverykindofyou。AMerryChristmastoyou，sir！”
“Mr。Scrooge？”
“Yes，”saidScrooge。“Thatismyname，andIfearitmaynotbepleasanttoyou。Allowmetoaskyourpardon。Andwillyouhavethegoodness—”hereScroogewhisperedinhisear。
“Lordblessme！”criedthegentleman，asifhisbreathweretakenaway。“MydearMr。Scrooge，areyouserious？”
“Ifyouplease，”saidScrooge。“Notafarthingless。Agreatmanyback-paymentsareincludedinit，Iassureyou。Willyoudomethatfavour？”
“Mydearsir，”saidtheother，shakinghandswithhim。“Idon’tknowwhattosaytosuchmunifi—
“Don’tsayanything，please，”retortedScrooge。“Comeandseeme。Willyoucomeandseeme？”“Iwill！”criedtheoldgentleman。Anditwasclearhemeanttodoit。
“Thankee，saidScrooge。“Iammuchobligedtoyou。Ithankyoufiftytimes。Blessyou！”
Hewenttochurch，andwalkedaboutthestreets，andwatchedthepeoplehurryingtoandfro，andpattedchildrenonthehead，andquestionedbeggars，andlookeddownintothekitchensofhouses，anduptothewindows；andfoundthateverythingcouldyieldhimpleasure。Hehadneverdreamedthatanywalk—thatanything—couldgivehimsomuchhappiness。Intheafter-noon，heturnedhisstepstowardshisnephew’shouse。
Hepassedthedooradozentimes，beforehehadthecouragetogoupandknock。Buthemadeadash，anddidit，
“Isyourmasterathome，mydear？”saidScroogetothegirl。Nicegirl！Very。
“Yes，sir。”
“Whereishe，mylove？”saidScrooge。
“He’sinthedining-room，sir，alongwithmistress。I’llshowyouupstairs，ifyouplease。”
“Thank’ee。Heknowsme，”saidScrooge，withhishandalreadyonthedining-roomlock。“I’llgoinhere，mydear。”
Heturneditgently，andsidledhisfacein，roundthedoor。Theywerelookingatthetable（whichwasspreadoutingreatarray）；fortheseyounghousekeepersarealwaysnervousonsuchpoints，andliketoseethateverythingisright。
“Fred！”saidScrooge。
Dearheartalive，howhisniecebymarriagestarted！Scroogehadforgotten，forthemoment，abouthersittinginthecornerwiththefootstool，orhewouldn’thavedoneit，onanyaccount。
Why，blessmysoul！”criedFred，“who’sthat？”
“It’sI。YouruncleScrooge。Ihavecometodinner。Willyouletmein，Fred？”
Lethimin！Itisamercyhedidn’tshakehisarmoff。Hewasathomeinfiveminutes。Nothingcouldbeheartier。Hisniecelookedjustthesame。SodidTopperwhenhecame。Sodidtheplumpsisterwhenshe
《圣诞颂歌内容概括》tave five（第2/2页）