小说妹妹网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

tave fur（第2页）

“It’slikelytobeaverycheapfuneral，”saidthesamespeaker；“foruponmylifeIdon’tknowofanybodytogotoit.Supposewemakeupapartyandvolunteer？”

“Idon’tmindgoingifalunchisprovided，”observedthegentlemanwiththeexcrescenceonhisnose.“ButImustbefed，ifImakeone.”

Anotherlaugh.

“Well，Iamthemostdisinterestedamongyou，afterall，”saidthefirstspeaker，“forIneverwearblackgloves，andInevereatlunch.ButI’lloffertogo，ifanybodyelsewill.WhenIcometothinkofit，I’mnotatallsurethatIwasn’thismostparticularfriend；forweusedtostopandspeakwheneverwemet.Bye，bye！”

Speakersandlistenersstrolledaway，andmixedwithothergroups.Scroogeknewthemen，andlookedtowardsthespiritforanexplanation.

Thephantomglidedonintoastreet.Itsfingerpointedtotwopersonsmeeting.Scroogelistenedagain，thinkingthattheexplanationmightliehere.

Heknewthesemen，also，perfectly.Theyweremenofbusiness，verywealthy，andofgreatimportance.Hehadmadeapointofalwaysstandingwellintheiresteem—inabusinesspointofview，thatis；strictlyinabusinesspointofview.

“Howareyou？”saidone.

“Howareyou？”returnedtheother.

“Well！”saidthefirst.“OldScratchhasgothisownatlast，hey？”

“SoIamtold，”returnedthesecond.“Cold，isn’tit？”

“SeasonableforChristmastime.You’renotaskater，Isuppose？”

“No.No.Somethingelsetothinkof.Good-morning！”

Notanotherword.Thatwastheirmeeting，theirconversation，andtheirparting.

Scroogewasatfirstinclinedtobesurprisedthatthespiritshouldattachimportancetoconversationsapparentlysotrivial；butfeelingassuredthattheymusthavesomehiddenpurpose，hesethimselftoconsiderwhatitwaslikelytobe.TheycouldscarcelybesupposedtohaveanybearingonthedeathofJacob，hisoldpartner，forthatwaspast，andthisghost’sprovincewasthefuture.NorcouldhethinkofanyoneimmediatelyconnectedwithhimselftowhomhecouldapplytheButnothingdoubtingthattowhomsoevertheyappliedtheyhadsomelatentmoralforhisownimprovement，heresolvedtotreasureupeverywordheheard，andeverythinghesaw；andespeciallytoobservetheshadowofhimselfwhenitappeared.Forhehadanexpectationthattheconductofhisfutureselfwouldgivehimthecluehemissed，andwouldrenderthesolutionoftheseriddleseasy.

Helookedaboutinthatveryplaceforhisownimage；butanothermanstoodinhisaccustomedcorner，andthoughtheclockpointedtohisusualtimeofdayforbeingthere，hesawnolikenessofhimselfamongthemultitudesthatpouredinthroughtheporch.Itgavehimlittlesurprise，however；forhehadbeenrevolvinginhismindachangeoflife，andthoughtandhopedhesawhisnew-bornresolutionscarriedoutinthis.

Quietanddark，besidehimstoodthephantom，withitsoutstretchedhand.Whenherousedhimselffromhisthoughfulquest，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.Uponthefloorwithin，werepiledupheapsofrustykeys，nails，chains，hinges，files，scales，weights，andrefuseironofallkinds.Secretsthatfewwouldliketoscrutinisewerebredandhiddeninmountainsofunseemlyrags，massesofcorruptedfat，andsepulchresofbones.Sittinginamongthewareshedealtin，byacharcoalstove，madeofoldbricks，wasagrayhairedrascal，nearlyseventyyearsofage；whohadscreenedhimselffromthecoldairwithout，byafrowsycurtainingofmiscellaneoustatters，hunguponaline；andsmokedhispipeinalltheluxuryofcalmretirement.

Scroogeandthephantomcameintothepresenceofthisman，justasawomanwithaheavybundleslunkintotheshop.Butshehadscarcelyentered，whenanotherwoman，similarlyladen，cameintoo；andshewascloselyfollowedbyamaninfadedblack，whowasnolessstartledbythesightofthemthantheyhadbeenupontherecognitionofeachother.Afterashortperiodofblankastonishment，inwhichtheoldmanwiththepipehadjoinedthem，theyallthreeburstintoalaugh.

“Letthecharwomanalonetobethefirst！”criedshewhohadenteredfirst.“Letthelaundressalonetobethesecond；andlettheundertakersmanalonetobethethird.Lookhere，oldJoe，here’sachance！Ifwehaven’tallthreemetherewithoutmeaningit！”

“Youcouldn’thavemetinabetterplace，”saidoldJoe，removinghispipefromhismouth.“Comeintotheparlour.Youweremadefreeofitlongago，youknow；andtheothertwoain’tstrangers.StoptillIshutthedooroftheshop.Ah！Howitscreaks！Thereain’tsucharustybitofmetalintheplaceasitsownhinges，Ibelieve；andI’msurethere’snosucholdboneshere，asmine.Ha，ha！We’reallsuitabletoourcalling；werewellmatched.Comeintotheparlour.Comeintotheparlour.”

Theparlourwasthespacebehindthescreenofrags；theoldmanrakedthefiretogetherwithanoldstair-rod，andhavingtrimmedhissmokylamp（foritwasnight）withthestemofhispipe，putitintohismouthagain.

Whilehedidthis，thewomanwhohadalreadyspokenthrewherbundleonthefloorandsatdowninaflauntingmanneronastool；crossingherelbowsonherknees，andlookingwithabolddefianceattheothertwo.

质数的孤独  穿越器主神号  意大利遗事  莫瑞斯  失忆的爱丽丝  遮蔽的天空  阿吽  火影：雷电法王，签到成神！  我牙齿的故事  隔壁的女人  四库全书总目提要  万能管家吉夫斯3：谢谢你，吉夫斯  套中人：契诃夫短篇小说选  帕尔马修道院  人间便利店  万能管家吉夫斯  万能管家吉夫斯4：行啦，吉夫斯  编舟记  婚约  万能管家吉夫斯5：伍斯特家训