Різдвяна історія
Chapter 1
Thetruthis,thathetriedtobesmart,asameansofdistractinghisownattention,andkeepingdownhisterror;forthespectre’svoicedisturbedtheverymarrowinhisbones.
Tosit,staringatthosefixedglazedeyes,insilenceforamoment,wouldplay,Scroogefelt,theverydeucewithhim.Therewassomethingveryawful,too,inthespectre’sbeingprovidedwithaninfernalatmosphereofitsown.Scroogecouldnotfeelithimself,butthiswasclearlythecase;forthoughtheGhostsatperfectlymotionless,itshair,andskirts,andtassels,werestillagitatedasbythehotvapourfromanoven.
‘Youseethistoothpick?’saidScrooge,returningquicklytothecharge,forthereasonjustassigned;andwishing,thoughitwereonlyforasecond,todivertthevision’sstonygazefromhimself.
‘Ido,’repliedtheGhost.
‘Youarenotlookingatit,’saidScrooge.
‘ButIseeit,’saidtheGhost,‘notwithstanding.’
‘Well!’returnedScrooge,‘Ihavebuttoswallowthis,andbefortherestofmydayspersecutedbyalegionofgoblins,allofmyowncreation.Humbug,Itellyou!humbug!’
Atthisthespiritraisedafrightfulcry,andshookitschainwithsuchadismalandappallingnoise,thatScroogeheldontighttohischair,tosavehimselffromfallinginaswoon.Buthowmuchgreaterwashishorror,whenthephantomtakingoffthebandagerounditshead,asifitweretoowarmtowearindoors,itslowerjawdroppeddownuponitsbreast!
Scroogefelluponhisknees,andclaspedhishandsbeforehisface.
‘Mercy!’hesaid.
