Рождественская история
Chapter 3
Itsfeet,observablebeneaththeamplefoldsofthegarment,werealsobare;andonitsheaditworenoothercoveringthanahollywreath,sethereandtherewithshiningicicles.Itsdarkbrowncurlswerelongandfree;freeasitsgenialface,itssparklingeye,itsopenhand,itscheeryvoice,itsunconstraineddemeanour,anditsjoyfulair.Girdedrounditsmiddlewasanantiquescabbard;butnoswordwasinit,andtheancientsheathwaseatenupwithrust.
‘Youhaveneverseenthelikeofmebefore?’exclaimedtheSpirit.
‘Never,’Scroogemadeanswertoit.
‘Haveneverwalkedforthwiththeyoungermembersofmyfamily;meaning(forIamveryyoung)myelderbrothersbornintheselateryears?’pursuedthePhantom.
‘Idon’tthinkIhave,’saidScrooge.‘IamafraidIhavenot.Haveyouhadmanybrothers,Spirit?’
‘Morethaneighteenhundred,’saidtheGhost.
‘Atremendousfamilytoprovidefor,’mutteredScrooge.
TheGhostofChristmasPresentrose.
‘Spirit,’saidScroogesubmissively,‘conductmewhereyouwill.Iwentforthlastnightoncompulsion,andIlearntalessonwhichisworkingnow.To-night,ifyouhaveaughttoteachme,letmeprofitbyit.’
‘Touchmyrobe.’
Scroogedidashewastold,andhelditfast.
Holly,mistletoe,redberries,ivy,turkeys,geese,game,poultry,brawn,meat,pigs,sausages,oysters,pies,puddings,fruit,andpunch,allvanishedinstantly.
