Lost by Gregory Maguire Page B

poor fellow — came in. His tea was ready for him on the hob, and they all tried who should help him to it most. Then the two young Cratchits got upon his knees and laid, each child a little cheek, against his face, as if they said,’ Don’t mind it, father. Don’t be grieved.’
    Bob was very cheerful with them, and spoke pleasantly to all the family. He looked at the workupon the table, and praised the industry and speed of Mrs Cratchit and the girls. They would be done long before Sunday, he said.
    â€˜Sunday. You went to-day, then, Robert.’ said his wife.
    â€˜Yes, my dear,’ returned Bob. ‘I wish you could have gone. It would have done you good to see how green a place it is. But you’ll see it often. I promised him that I would walk there on a Sunday. My little, little child.’ cried Bob. ‘My little child.’
    He broke down all at once. He couldn’t help it. If he could have helped it, he and his child would have been farther apart perhaps than they were.
    He left the room, and went up-stairs into the room above, which was lighted cheerfully, and hung with Christmas. There was a chair set close beside the child, and there were signs of some one having been there, lately. Poor Bob sat down in it, and when he had thought a little and composed himself, he kissed the little face. He was reconciled to what had happened, and went down again quite happy.
    They drew about the fire, and talked; the girls and mother working still. Bob told them of the extraordinary kindness of Mr Scrooge’s nephew, whom he had scarcely seen but once, and who,meeting him in the street that day, and seeing that he looked a little -’ just a little down you know,’ said Bob, inquired what had happened to distress him. ‘On which,’ said Bob,’ for he is the pleasantest-spoken gentleman you ever heard, I told him. ‘I am heartily sorry for it, Mr Cratchit,’ he said,’ and heartily sorry for your good wife.’ By the bye, how he ever knew that, I don’t know.’
    â€˜Knew what, my dear.’
    â€˜Why, that you were a good wife,’ replied Bob.
    â€˜Everybody knows that.’ said Peter.
    â€˜Very well observed, my boy.’ cried Bob. ‘I hope they do. ‘Heartily sorry,’ he said,’ for your good wife. If I can be of service to you in any way,’ he said, giving me his card,’ that’s where I live. Pray come to me.’ Now, it wasn’t,’ cried Bob,’ for the sake of anything he might be able to do for us, so much as for his kind way, that this was quite delightful. It really seemed as if he had known our Tiny Tim, and felt with us.’
    â€˜I’m sure he’s a good soul.’ said Mrs Cratchit.
    â€˜You would be surer of it, my dear,’ returned Bob,’ if you saw and spoke to him. I shouldn’t be at all surprised - mark what I say. — if he got Peter a better situation.’
    â€˜Only hear that, Peter,’ said Mrs Cratchit.
    â€˜And then,’ cried one of the girls,’ Peter will be keeping company with some one, and setting up for himself.’
    â€˜Get along with you.’ retorted Peter, grinning.
    â€˜It’s just as likely as not,’ said Bob,’ one of these days; though there’s plenty of time for that, my dear. But however and when ever we part from one another, I am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Tim — shall we — or this first parting that there was among us.’
    â€˜Never, father.’ cried they all.
    â€˜And I know,’ said Bob,’ I know, my dears, that when we recollect how patient and how mild he was; although he was a little, little child; we shall not quarrel easily among ourselves, and forget poor Tiny Tim in doing it.’
    â€˜No, never, father.’ they all cried again.
    â€˜I am very happy,’ said little Bob,’ I am very happy.’
    Mrs Cratchit kissed him, his