Різдвяна історія

           Scroogeshivered,andwipedtheperspirationfromhisbrow.

           ‘Thatisnolightpartofmypenance,’pursuedtheGhost.‘Iamhereto-nighttowarnyou,thatyouhaveyetachanceandhopeofescapingmyfate.Achanceandhopeofmyprocuring,Ebenezer.’

           ‘Youwerealwaysagoodfriendtome,’saidScrooge.‘Thank‘ee!’

           ‘Youwillbehaunted,’resumedtheGhost,‘byThreeSpirits.’

           Scrooge’scountenancefellalmostaslowastheGhost’shaddone.

           ‘Isthatthechanceandhopeyoumentioned,Jacob?’hedemanded,inafalteringvoice.

           ‘Itis.’

           ‘I—IthinkI’drathernot,’saidScrooge.

           ‘Withouttheirvisits,’saidtheGhost,‘youcannothopetoshunthepathItread.Expectthefirsttomorrow,whenthebelltollsOne.’

           ‘Couldn’tItake‘emallatonce,andhaveitover,Jacob?’hintedScrooge.

           ‘Expectthesecondonthenextnightatthesamehour.ThethirduponthenextnightwhenthelaststrokeofTwelvehasceasedtovibrate.Looktoseemenomore;andlookthat,foryourownsake,yourememberwhathaspassedbetweenus!’

           Whenithadsaidthesewords,thespectretookitswrapperfromthetable,andbounditrounditshead,asbefore.Scroogeknewthis,bythesmartsounditsteethmade,whenthejawswerebroughttogetherbythebandage.Heventuredtoraisehiseyesagain,andfoundhissupernaturalvisitorconfrontinghiminanerectattitude,withitschainwoundoverandaboutitsarm.