登陆注册
19453800000008

第8章 Marley's Ghost(7)

"You were always a good friend to me,"said Scrooge."Thank'ee!''

"You will be haunted,''resumed the Ghost,"by Three Spirits.''

Scrooge's countenance fell almost as low as the Ghost's had done.

"Is that the chance and hope you mentioned,Jacob?''he demanded,in a faltering voice.

"It is.''

"I--I think I'd rather not,"said Scrooge.

"Without their visits,"said the Ghost,"you cannot hope to shun the path I tread.Expect the first to-morrow,when the bell tolls One."

"Couldn't I take 'em all at once,and have it over,Jacob?"hinted Scrooge.

"Expect the second on the next night at the same hour.The third upon the next night when the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate.Look to see me no more;and look that,for your own sake,you remember what has passed between us."

When it had said these words,the spectre took its wrapper from the table,and bound it round its head,as before.Scrooge knew this,by the smart sound its teeth made,when the jaws were brought together by the bandage.He ventured to raise his eyes again,and found his supernatural visitor confronting him in an erect attitude,with its chain wound over and about its arm.

The apparition walked backward from him;and at every step it took,the window raised itself a little,so that when the spectre reached it,it was wide open.

It beckoned Scrooge to approach,which he did.When they were within two paces of each other,Marley's Ghost held up its hand,warning him to come no nearer.Scrooge stopped.

Not so much in obedience,as in surprise and fear:for on the raising of the hand,he became sensible of confused noises in the air;incoherent sounds of lamentation and regret;wailings inexpressibly sorrowful and self-accusatory.The spectre,after listening for a moment,joined in the mournful dirge;and floated out upon the bleak,dark night.

Scrooge followed to the window:desperate in his curiosity.He looked out.

The air was filled with phantoms,wandering hither and thither in restless haste,and moaning as they went.Every one of them wore chains like Marley's Ghost;some few (they might be guilty governments)were linked together;

none were free.Many had been personally known to Scrooge in their lives.

He had been quite familiar with one old ghost,in a white waistcoat,with a monstrous iron safe attached to its ankle,who cried piteously at being unable to assist a wretched woman with an infant,whom it saw below,upon a door-step.The misery with them all was,clearly,that they sought to interfere,for good,in human matters,and had lost the power for ever.

Whether these creatures faded into mist,or mist enshrouded them,he could not tell.But they and their spirit voices faded together;and the night became as it had been when he walked home.

Scrooge closed the window,and examined the door by which the Ghost had entered.It was double-locked,as he had locked it with his own hands,and the bolts were undisturbed.He tried to say "Humbug!"but stopped at the first syllable.And being,from the emotion he had undergone,or the fatigues of the day,or his glimpse of the Invisible World,or the dull conversation of the Ghost,or the lateness of the hour,much in need of repose;went straight to bed,without undressing,and fell asleep upon the instant.Next Chapter A Christmas Carol-Chapter 2-The First of the Three Spirits Previous Chapter Next Chapter

同类推荐
  • 八识规矩通说

    八识规矩通说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 屏岩小稿

    屏岩小稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 成具光明定意经

    成具光明定意经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 炎徼纪闻

    炎徼纪闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • LITTLE NOVELS

    LITTLE NOVELS

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 网游之杀戮魔神

    网游之杀戮魔神

    夜弦是一个高三学生,正因为生活费不够用的情况所困惑,在去海边街的路上差点被一个盒子绊倒,结果发现了一款叫做《万界》游戏,进入游戏后夜弦发现这款游戏的仿真的99%相似于现实,于是夜弦从此迷上了这款游戏!夜弦的生活究竟是否会因为一款游戏而改变呢?且看夜弦是如何在现实与游戏中大放光彩!!
  • 唇口门

    唇口门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 荆州记

    荆州记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 别小看了这些知识

    别小看了这些知识

    科学是人类进步的第一推动力,而科学知识的普及则是实现这一推动的必由之路。在新的时代,社会的进步、科技的发展、人们生活水平的不断提高,为我们青少年的科普教育提供了新的契机。抓住这个契机,大力普及科学知识,传播科学精神,提高青少年的科学素质,是我们全社会的重要课题。科学教育,是提高青少年素质的重要因素,是现代教育的核心,这不仅能使青少年获得生活和未来所需的知识与技能,更重要的是能使青少年获得科学思想、科学精神、科学态度及科学方法的熏陶和培养。
  • 党员干部教育热点问题
  • 神偷倾世瞰天下风云

    神偷倾世瞰天下风云

    咳咳咳。。。太突然,实在太突然!一不小心就到这个神马都不知道的世界里!不过,某女认为到哪都无所谓,反正心理素质强!但是。。。“小姐,他们说你是个废材。。”某女头上刷下三条黑线。。。要不要这么背!!废材?姐好歹是一介神偷,没有乱七八糟的玄力又怎样?!不是以一敌百的斗师又怎样?!照样可以玩转异界大陆!欺负我的,不好意思,告诉你的主治大夫一切都是本小姐干的!小看我的,不好意思,荷包神马的简直是多多益善!想要和我厮守一生的,等等。。。这货是哪个猴子派出来打击某女的大神。。。。。
  • 冲喜新娘:总裁请节制

    冲喜新娘:总裁请节制

    他对她一见钟情,再见倾心,三见打包带走。她却对别人心有所属,他用尽一切手段咄咄紧逼,她步步后退。那个不知餍足的罪恶夜晚,他突然消失,两年后出现在她全城轰动的豪门婚礼上。再次出现的他身份地位都比当年更为强大,他破坏了她的婚姻、强行娶了她。这一次,他是为了复仇而来的撒旦,没变的是多年来对她的痴狂!!!爱情、金钱、权势交织,当一切繁华褪尽,血淋淋的真相才开始浮出水面。【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 王爷宠妃:嫡女谋姝

    王爷宠妃:嫡女谋姝

    步君寒在大周朝后宫处处算计步步为谋,那时她不求一人心,但求母仪天下。重生之后居然成了被皇叔捡回家的人见人欺的小白兔。扮猪吃老虎,你还以为小白兔好欺负?皇叔皇叔!那个女人是坏银!她欺负本宫!皇叔皇叔!那个皇帝是坏银!他要娶本宫!皇叔皇叔!他们都是坏银!怎么可以打扰本宫和皇叔二人世界!皇叔皇叔!本宫……不对,妾身打滚卖萌求怜爱,你……可不可以娶我……
  • 幻世少年行

    幻世少年行

    本篇为幻缈系列第一部长篇小说,世界设定详见“作品相关”部分,相关小说见《云柳传奇》、《兰舟行》。嘉元大陆两江国末年,少年谢纯被误认为帝王降世,并获得了只有真正帝王方能使用的神器镇天剑。由于这阴差阳错的巧合机缘,谢纯的命运将会发生怎样的改变?他又将如何纵横于这两江乱世?对于本系列感兴趣的读者欢迎在书评区留言交流~~感谢创世书评团提供论坛书评支持!
  • 55度:总裁前妻惹人爱

    55度:总裁前妻惹人爱

    看着手机上那张子宫的照片,孟夕冷笑着,现在的世道连小三都这么明目张胆了,冲动之下进错了门,认错了人,她就这样被一个叫韩斐的男人缠住了。“韩先生,请别忘了,我是一个有夫之妇,离我远一点。”每一次,她这么义正言辞的拒绝他。他眸光闪烁着无限的真诚,一本正经的回到:“孟小姐,也别忘了,我是你的情夫。”孟夕抓狂了总是想要和他保持距离,可是每一次她遇到困难遇到危险的时候,都是他在她身边温暖她,保护她,替她教训那个忘恩负义的男人和那个嚣张成性的小三。只是,他太神秘,神秘的让她看不清,摸不着,她已经错了一次,难道还要在错第二次吗?