‘it It's the best chicken I've ever tasted,' said Bob, smiling round at his family, who, with their mouths full, all agreed.
And then, the most exciting moment of the day! Belinda put a clean plate in front of each person, and they all turned to look at Mrs Cratchit as she came in from the kitchen. Her face was hot from her morning's work, but she was smiling happily as she carried in the Christmas pudding, in its little circle of blue fire!
Oh, it was a wonderful pudding! They were all delighted with it.
‘It's your greatest success in all the years that we've been married, my dear!' said Bob
‘Well, I did wonder how much fruit to put in it,' said his wife, but, yes, it's a good one!' And she laughed just like a young girl.
Nobody said that it was a very small pudding for a large family. Nobody even thought it. No Cratchit ever said or thought things like that.
At last, when they had finished their meal, the children cleared the table and washed the plates. Then they all sat round the fire, eating apples and oranges. There was a large bowl of fruit and sugar and hot water and something a little stronger, but only three people could drink at the same time, because the family only owned two glasses and a cup. But this did not worry the Cratchits at all. Now Bob lifted his glass and said, 'A merry Christmas to us all, my dears! God bless us!’