Рождественская история
Chapter 2
Alltheseboyswereingreatspirits,andshoutedtoeachother,untilthebroadfieldsweresofullofmerrymusic,thatthecrispairlaughedtohearit.
‘Thesearebutshadowsofthethingsthathavebeen,’saidtheGhost.‘Theyhavenoconsciousnessofus.’
Thejocundtravellerscameon;andastheycame,Scroogeknewandnamedthemeveryone.Whywasherejoicedbeyondallboundstoseethem?Whydidhiscoldeyeglisten,andhisheartleapupastheywentpast?WhywashefilledwithgladnesswhenheheardthemgiveeachotherMerryChristmas,astheypartedatcross-roadsandbye-ways,fortheirseveralhomes?WhatwasmerryChristmastoScrooge?OutuponmerryChristmas!Whatgoodhaditeverdonetohim?
‘Theschoolisnotquitedeserted,’saidtheGhost.‘Asolitarychild,neglectedbyhisfriends,islefttherestill.’
Scroogesaidheknewit.Andhesobbed.
Theyleftthehigh-road,byawell-rememberedlane,andsoonapproachedamansionofdullredbrick,withalittleweathercock-surmountedcupola,ontheroof,andabellhanginginit.Itwasalargehouse,butoneofbrokenfortunes;forthespaciousofficeswerelittleused,theirwallsweredampandmossy,theirwindowsbroken,andtheirgatesdecayed.Fowlscluckedandstruttedinthestables;andthecoach-housesandshedswereover-runwithgrass.Norwasitmoreretentiveofitsancientstate,within;forenteringthedrearyhall,andglancingthroughtheopendoorsofmanyrooms,theyfoundthempoorlyfurnished,cold,andvast.
