Різдвяна історія

           Thefogandfrostsohungabouttheblackoldgatewayofthehouse,thatitseemedasiftheGeniusoftheWeathersatinmournfulmeditationonthethreshold.

           Now,itisafact,thattherewasnothingatallparticularabouttheknockeronthedoor,exceptthatitwasverylarge.Itisalsoafact,thatScroogehadseenit,nightandmorning,duringhiswholeresidenceinthatplace;alsothatScroogehadaslittleofwhatiscalledfancyabouthimasanymaninthecityofLondon,evenincluding—whichisaboldword—thecorporation,aldermen,andlivery.LetitalsobeborneinmindthatScroogehadnotbestowedonethoughtonMarley,sincehislastmentionofhissevenyears’deadpartnerthatafternoon.Andthenletanymanexplaintome,ifhecan,howithappenedthatScrooge,havinghiskeyinthelockofthedoor,sawintheknocker,withoutitsundergoinganyintermediateprocessofchange—notaknocker,butMarley’sface.

           Marley’sface.Itwasnotinimpenetrableshadowastheotherobjectsintheyardwere,buthadadismallightaboutit,likeabadlobsterinadarkcellar.Itwasnotangryorferocious,butlookedatScroogeasMarleyusedtolook:withghostlyspectaclesturneduponitsghostlyforehead.Thehairwascuriouslystirred,asifbybreathorhotair;and,thoughtheeyeswerewideopen,theywereperfectlymotionless.That,anditslividcolour,madeithorrible;butitshorrorseemedtobeinspiteofthefaceandbeyonditscontrol,ratherthanapartofitsownexpression.