三三言情小说

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tave five（第2页）

“Hollo！”

returnedtheboy.

“Doyouknowthepoulterer’sinthenextstreetbutone，atthecorner？”

Scroogeinquired.

“IshouldhopeIdid，”

repliedthelad.

“Anintelligentboy！”

saidScrooge.“Aremarkableboy！

Doyouknowwhetherthey’vesoldtheprizeturkeythatwashangingupthere？—Notthelittleprizeturkey：thebigone？”

“What，theoneasbigasme？”

returnedtheboy.

“Whatadelightfulboy！”

saidScrooge.“It’sapleasuretotalktohim.Yes，mybuck！”

“It’shangingtherenow，”

repliedtheboy.

“Isit？”

saidScrooge.“Goandbuyit.”

“Walk-ER！”

exclaimedtheboy.

“No，no，”

saidScrooge，“Iaminearnest.Goandbuyit，andtell’emtobringithere，thatImaygivethemthedirectionwheretotakeitComebackwiththeman，andI’llgiveyouashilling.Comebackwithhiminlessthanfiveminutes，andI’llgiveyouhalfacrown！”

Theboywasofflikeashot.Hemusthavehadasteadyhandatatriggerwhocouldhavegotashotoffhalfsofast.

“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.