Різдвяна історія
Chapter 1
‘Itcomesfromotherregions,EbenezerScrooge,andisconveyedbyotherministers,tootherkindsofmen.NorcanItellyouwhatIwould.Averylittlemore,isallpermittedtome.Icannotrest,Icannotstay,Icannotlingeranywhere.Myspiritneverwalkedbeyondourcounting-house—markme!—inlifemyspiritneverrovedbeyondthenarrowlimitsofourmoney-changinghole;andwearyjourneysliebeforeme!’
ItwasahabitwithScrooge,wheneverhebecamethoughtful,toputhishandsinhisbreechespockets.PonderingonwhattheGhosthadsaid,hedidsonow,butwithoutliftinguphiseyes,orgettingoffhisknees.
‘Youmusthavebeenveryslowaboutit,Jacob,’Scroogeobserved,inabusiness-likemanner,thoughwithhumilityanddeference.
‘Slow!’theGhostrepeated.
‘Sevenyearsdead,’musedScrooge.‘Andtravellingallthetime!’
‘Thewholetime,’saidtheGhost.‘Norest,nopeace.Incessanttortureofremorse.’
‘Youtravelfast?’saidScrooge.
‘Onthewingsofthewind,’repliedtheGhost.
‘Youmighthavegotoveragreatquantityofgroundinsevenyears,’saidScrooge.
TheGhost,onhearingthis,setupanothercry,andclankeditschainsohideouslyinthedeadsilenceofthenight,thattheWardwouldhavebeenjustifiedinindictingitforanuisance.
‘Oh!captive,bound,anddouble-ironed,’criedthephantom,‘nottoknow,thatagesofincessantlabour,byimmortalcreatures,forthisearthmustpassintoeternitybeforethegoodofwhichitissusceptibleisalldeveloped.
