Just then the eldest daughter, Martha, arrived home from
work.
'Here's Martha, mother!' cried the two young Cratchits
happily. 'We're having a really big chicken for dinner,
Martha!' In fact it was only a small chicken, but it seemed
large to the excited children.
'My dear, how late you are!' said Mrs Cratchit, kissing
her daughter several times.
'We were so busy yesterday, mother!' replied the girl.
'That's why we didn't finish until this morning!'
'Well! Never mind, now that you're here. God bless
you! Sit down by the fire, my dear!'