Різдвяна історія
Chapter 1
IfwewerenotperfectlyconvincedthatHamlet’sFatherdiedbeforetheplaybegan,therewouldbenothingmoreremarkableinhistakingastrollatnight,inaneasterlywind,uponhisownramparts,thantherewouldbeinanyothermiddle-agedgentlemanrashlyturningoutafterdarkinabreezyspot—saySaintPaul’sChurchyardforinstance—literallytoastonishhisson’sweakmind.
ScroogeneverpaintedoutOldMarley’sname.Thereitstood,yearsafterwards,abovethewarehousedoor:ScroogeandMarley.ThefirmwasknownasScroogeandMarley.SometimespeoplenewtothebusinesscalledScroogeScrooge,andsometimesMarley,butheansweredtobothnames.Itwasallthesametohim.
Oh!Buthewasatight-fistedhandatthegrind-stone,Scrooge!asqueezing,wrenching,grasping,scraping,clutching,covetous,oldsinner!Hardandsharpasflint,fromwhichnosteelhadeverstruckoutgenerousfire;secret,andself-contained,andsolitaryasanoyster.Thecoldwithinhimfrozehisoldfeatures,nippedhispointednose,shrivelledhischeek,stiffenedhisgait;madehiseyesred,histhinlipsblue;andspokeoutshrewdlyinhisgratingvoice.Afrostyrimewasonhishead,andonhiseyebrows,andhiswirychin.Hecarriedhisownlowtemperaturealwaysaboutwithhim;heicedhisofficeinthedogdays;anddidn’tthawitonedegreeatChristmas.
ExternalheatandcoldhadlittleinfluenceonScrooge.Nowarmthcouldwarm,nowintryweatherchillhim.
