Рождественская история

           Thetruthis,thathetriedtobesmart,asameansofdistractinghisownattention,andkeepingdownhisterror;forthespectre’svoicedisturbedtheverymarrowinhisbones.

           Tosit,staringatthosefixedglazedeyes,insilenceforamoment,wouldplay,Scroogefelt,theverydeucewithhim.Therewassomethingveryawful,too,inthespectre’sbeingprovidedwithaninfernalatmosphereofitsown.Scroogecouldnotfeelithimself,butthiswasclearlythecase;forthoughtheGhostsatperfectlymotionless,itshair,andskirts,andtassels,werestillagitatedasbythehotvapourfromanoven.

           ‘Youseethistoothpick?’saidScrooge,returningquicklytothecharge,forthereasonjustassigned;andwishing,thoughitwereonlyforasecond,todivertthevision’sstonygazefromhimself.

           ‘Ido,’repliedtheGhost.

           ‘Youarenotlookingatit,’saidScrooge.

           ‘ButIseeit,’saidtheGhost,‘notwithstanding.’

           ‘Well!’returnedScrooge,‘Ihavebuttoswallowthis,andbefortherestofmydayspersecutedbyalegionofgoblins,allofmyowncreation.Humbug,Itellyou!humbug!’

           Atthisthespiritraisedafrightfulcry,andshookitschainwithsuchadismalandappallingnoise,thatScroogeheldontighttohischair,tosavehimselffromfallinginaswoon.Buthowmuchgreaterwashishorror,whenthephantomtakingoffthebandagerounditshead,asifitweretoowarmtowearindoors,itslowerjawdroppeddownuponitsbreast!

           Scroogefelluponhisknees,andclaspedhishandsbeforehisface.

           ‘Mercy!’hesaid.