Різдвяна історія
Chapter 1
Thecellar-doorflewopenwithaboomingsound,andthenheheardthenoisemuchlouder,onthefloorsbelow;thencomingupthestairs;thencomingstraighttowardshisdoor.
‘It’shumbugstill!’saidScrooge.‘Iwon’tbelieveit.’
Hiscolourchangedthough,when,withoutapause,itcameonthroughtheheavydoor,andpassedintotheroombeforehiseyes.Uponitscomingin,thedyingflameleapedup,asthoughitcried‘Iknowhim;Marley’sGhost!’andfellagain.
Thesameface:theverysame.Marleyinhispigtail,usualwaistcoat,tightsandboots;thetasselsonthelatterbristling,likehispigtail,andhiscoat-skirts,andthehairuponhishead.Thechainhedrewwasclaspedabouthismiddle.Itwaslong,andwoundabouthimlikeatail;anditwasmade(forScroogeobserveditclosely)ofcash-boxes,keys,padlocks,ledgers,deeds,andheavypurseswroughtinsteel.Hisbodywastransparent;sothatScrooge,observinghim,andlookingthroughhiswaistcoat,couldseethetwobuttonsonhiscoatbehind.
ScroogehadoftenhearditsaidthatMarleyhadnobowels,buthehadneverbelievedituntilnow.
No,nordidhebelieveitevennow.Thoughhelookedthephantomthroughandthrough,andsawitstandingbeforehim;thoughhefeltthechillinginfluenceofitsdeath-coldeyes;andmarkedtheverytextureofthefoldedkerchiefboundaboutitsheadandchin,whichwrapperhehadnotobservedbefore;hewasstillincredulous,andfoughtagainsthissenses.
‘Hownow!’saidScrooge,causticandcoldasever.
