Рождественская история
Chapter 1
‘Dreadfulapparition,whydoyoutroubleme?’
‘Manoftheworldlymind!’repliedtheGhost,‘doyoubelieveinmeornot?’
‘Ido,’saidScrooge.‘Imust.Butwhydospiritswalktheearth,andwhydotheycometome?’
‘Itisrequiredofeveryman,’theGhostreturned,‘thatthespiritwithinhimshouldwalkabroadamonghisfellowmen,andtravelfarandwide;andifthatspiritgoesnotforthinlife,itiscondemnedtodosoafterdeath.Itisdoomedtowanderthroughtheworld—oh,woeisme!—andwitnesswhatitcannotshare,butmighthavesharedonearth,andturnedtohappiness!’
Againthespectreraisedacry,andshookitschainandwrungitsshadowyhands.
‘Youarefettered,’saidScrooge,trembling.‘Tellmewhy?’
‘IwearthechainIforgedinlife,’repliedtheGhost.‘Imadeitlinkbylink,andyardbyyard;Igirdeditonofmyownfreewill,andofmyownfreewillIworeit.Isitspatternstrangetoyou?’
Scroogetrembledmoreandmore.
‘Orwouldyouknow,’pursuedtheGhost,‘theweightandlengthofthestrongcoilyoubearyourself?Itwasfullasheavyandaslongasthis,sevenChristmasEvesago.Youhavelabouredonit,since.Itisaponderouschain!’
Scroogeglancedabouthimonthefloor,intheexpectationoffindinghimselfsurroundedbysomefiftyorsixtyfathomsofironcable:buthecouldseenothing.
‘Jacob,’hesaid,imploringly.‘OldJacobMarley,tellmemore.Speakcomforttome,Jacob!’
‘Ihavenonetogive,’theGhostreplied.
