Різдвяна історія
Chapter 2
Asthewordswerespoken,theypassedthroughthewall,andstooduponanopencountryroad,withfieldsoneitherhand.Thecityhadentirelyvanished.Notavestigeofitwastobeseen.Thedarknessandthemisthadvanishedwithit,foritwasaclear,cold,winterday,withsnowupontheground.
‘GoodHeaven!’saidScrooge,claspinghishandstogether,ashelookedabouthim.‘Iwasbredinthisplace.Iwasaboyhere.’
TheSpiritgazeduponhimmildly.Itsgentletouch,thoughithadbeenlightandinstantaneous,appearedstillpresenttotheoldman’ssenseoffeeling.Hewasconsciousofathousandodoursfloatingintheair,eachoneconnectedwithathousandthoughts,andhopes,andjoys,andcareslong,long,forgotten.
‘Yourlipistrembling,’saidtheGhost.‘andwhatisthatuponyourcheek?’
Scroogemuttered,withanunusualcatchinginhisvoice,thatitwasapimple;andbeggedtheGhosttoleadhimwherehewould.
‘Yourecollecttheway?’inquiredtheSpirit.
‘Rememberit!’criedScroogewithfervour;‘Icouldwalkitblindfold.’
‘Strangetohaveforgottenitforsomanyyears,’observedtheGhost.‘Letusgoon.’
Theywalkedalongtheroad,Scroogerecognisingeverygate,andpost,andtree;untilalittlemarket-townappearedinthedistance,withitsbridge,itschurch,andwindingriver.Someshaggyponiesnowwereseentrottingtowardsthemwithboysupontheirbacks,whocalledtootherboysincountrygigsandcarts,drivenbyfarmers.
