Різдвяна історія
Chapter 4
Itthrilledhimwithavagueuncertainhorror,toknowthatbehindtheduskyshroud,therewereghostlyeyesintentlyfixeduponhim,whilehe,thoughhestretchedhisowntotheutmost,couldseenothingbutaspectralhandandonegreatheapofblack.
‘GhostoftheFuture!’heexclaimed,‘IfearyoumorethananyspectreIhaveseen.ButasIknowyourpurposeistodomegood,andasIhopetolivetobeanothermanfromwhatIwas,Iampreparedtobearyoucompany,anddoitwithathankfulheart.Willyounotspeaktome?’
Itgavehimnoreply.Thehandwaspointedstraightbeforethem.
‘Leadon,’saidScrooge.‘Leadon.Thenightiswaningfast,anditisprecioustimetome,Iknow.Leadon,Spirit!’
ThePhantommovedawayasithadcometowardshim.Scroogefollowedintheshadowofitsdress,whichborehimup,hethought,andcarriedhimalong.
Theyscarcelyseemedtoenterthecity;forthecityratherseemedtospringupaboutthem,andencompassthemofitsownact.Buttheretheywere,intheheartofit;on‘Change,amongstthemerchants;whohurriedupanddown,andchinkedthemoneyintheirpockets,andconversedingroups,andlookedattheirwatches,andtrifledthoughtfullywiththeirgreatgoldseals;andsoforth,asScroogehadseenthemoften.
TheSpiritstoppedbesideonelittleknotofbusinessmen.Observingthatthehandwaspointedtothem,Scroogeadvancedtolistentotheirtalk.
‘No,’saidagreatfatmanwithamonstrouschin,‘Idon’tknowmuchaboutit,eitherway.Ionlyknowhe’sdead.’
