Різдвяна історія
Chapter 4
Forhehadanexpectationthattheconductofhisfutureselfwouldgivehimthecluehemissed,andwouldrenderthesolutionoftheseriddleseasy.
Helookedaboutinthatveryplaceforhisownimage;butanothermanstoodinhisaccustomedcorner,andthoughtheclockpointedtohisusualtimeofdayforbeingthere,hesawnolikenessofhimselfamongthemultitudesthatpouredinthroughthePorch.Itgavehimlittlesurprise,however;forhehadbeenrevolvinginhismindachangeoflife,andthoughtandhopedhesawhisnew-bornresolutionscarriedoutinthis.
Quietanddark,besidehimstoodthePhantom,withitsoutstretchedhand.Whenherousedhimselffromhisthoughtfulquest,hefanciedfromtheturnofthehand,anditssituationinreferencetohimself,thattheUnseenEyeswerelookingathimkeenly.Itmadehimshudder,andfeelverycold.
Theyleftthebusyscene,andwentintoanobscurepartofthetown,whereScroogehadneverpenetratedbefore,althoughherecogniseditssituation,anditsbadrepute.Thewayswerefoulandnarrow;theshopsandhouseswretched;thepeoplehalf-naked,drunken,slipshod,ugly.Alleysandarchways,likesomanycesspools,disgorgedtheiroffencesofsmell,anddirt,andlife,uponthestragglingstreets;andthewholequarterreekedwithcrime,withfilth,andmisery.
Farinthisdenofinfamousresort,therewasalow-browed,beetlingshop,belowapent-houseroof,whereiron,oldrags,bottles,bones,andgreasyoffal,werebought.
