tave（第2/2页）
木马小说网www.mumahao.com
“Longpast？”inquiredScrooge，observantofhisdwarfishstature。
“No。Yourpast。”
PerhapsScroogecouldnothavetoldanybodywhy，ifanybodycouldhaveaskedhim，buthehadaspecialdesiretoseethespiritinhiscap；andbeggedhimtobecovered。
“What！”exclaimedtheghost，“wouldyousosoonputout，withworldlyhands，thelightIgive？Isitnotenoughthatyouareoneofthosewhosepassionsmadethiscap，andforcemethroughwholetrainsofyearstowearitlowuponmybrow？”
Scroogereverentlydisclaimedallintentiontooffend，oranyknowledgeofhavingwilfully“bonneted”thespiritatanyperiodofhislife。Hethenmadeboldtoinquirewhatbusinessbroughthimthere。
“Yourwelfare！”saidtheghost。
Scroogeexpressedhimselfmuchobliged，butcouldnothelpthinkingthatanightofunbrokenrestwouldhavebeenmoreconducivetothatend。Thespiritmusthaveheardhimthinking，foritsaidimmediately—
“Yourreclamation，then。Takeheed！”
Itputoutitsstronghandasitspoke，andclaspedhimgentlybythearm。
“Rise！andwalkwithme！”
ItwouldhavebeeninvainforScroogetopleadthattheweatherandthehourwerenotadaptedtopedestrianpurposes；thatbedwaswarm，andthethermometeralongwaybelowfreezing；thathewascladbutlightlyinhisslippers，dressing-gown，andnightcap；andthathehadacolduponhimatthattime。Thegrasp，thoughgentleasawoman’shand，wasnottoberesisted。Herose；butfindingthatthespiritmadetowardsthewindow，claspeditsrobeinsupplication。
“Iamamortal，”Scroogeremonstrated，“andliabletofall。”
“Bearbutatouchofmyhandthere，”saidthespirit，layingituponhisheart，“andyoushallbeupheldinmorethanthis！”
Asthewordswerespoken，theypassedthroughthewail，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，longforgotten！
“Yourlipistrembling，”saidtheghost。“Andwhatisthatuponyourcheek？”
Scroogemuttered，withanunusualcatchinginhisvoice，thatitwasapimple；andbeggedtheghosttoleadhimwherehewould。
“Yourecollecttheway？”inquiredthespirit。
“Rememberit！”criedScrooge，withfervour；“Icouldwalkitblindfold。”
“Strangetohaveforgottenitforsomanyyears！”observedtheghost。“Letusgoon。”Theywalkedalongtheroad—Scroogerecognisingeverygate，andpost，andtree—untilalittlemarket-townappearedinthedistance，withitsbridge，itschurch，andwindingriver。Someshaggyponiesnowwereseentrottingtowardsthemwithboysupontheirbacks，whocalledtootherboysincountrygigsandcarts，drivenbyfarmers。Alltheseboyswereingreatspirits，andshoutedtoeachother，untilthebroadfieldsweresofullofmerrymusic，thatthecrispairlaughedtohearit。
“Thesearebutshadowsofthethingsthathavebeen，”saidtheghost。“Theyhavenoconsciousnessofus。”
Thejocundtravellerscameon；andastheycame，Scroogeknewandnamedthemeveryone。Whywasherejoicedbeyondallboundstoseethem？Whydidhiscoldeyeglisten，andhisheartleapupastheywentpast？WhywashefilledwithgladnesswhenheheardthemgiveeachotherMerryChristmas，astheypartedatcrossroadsandbyways，fortheirseveralhomes？WhatwasMerryChristmastoScrooge？OutuponMerryChristmas！Whatgoodhaditeverdonetohim？
“Theschoolisnotquitedeserted，”saidtheghost。“Asolitarychild，neglectedbyhisfriends，islefttherestill。”
Scroogesaidheknewit。Andhesobbed。
Theyleftthehighroad，byawell-rememberedlane，andsoonapproachedamansionofdullredbrick，withalittleweather-cock-surmountedcupolaontheroof，andabellhanginginit。Itwasalargehouse，butoneofbrokenfortunes；forthespaciousofficeswerelittleused，theirwallsweredampandmossy，theirwindowsbroken，andtheirgatesdecayed。Fowlscluckedandstruttedinthestables；andthecoach-housesandshedswereoverrunwithgrass。Norwasitmoreretentiveofitsancientstate，within；forenteringthedrearyhall，andglancingthroughtheopendoorsofmanyrooms，theyfoundthempoorlyfurnished，coldandvast。Therewasanearthysavourintheair，ahillybarenessintheplace，whichassociateditselfsomehowwithtoomuchgettingupbycandlelight，andnottoomuchtoeat。
《圣诞颂歌 A Christmas Carol》tave（第2/2页）