高考英语阅读素材 A CHRISTMAS CAROLC04.pdf

1、A CHRISTMAS CAROL C04 Chapter 4 The Last of the Spirits The Phantom slowly gravely silently approached When it came Scrooge bent down upon his knee for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery It was shrouded in a deep black garment which concealed its head its face its form and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night and separate it from the darkness by which

2、 it was surrounded He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread He knew no more for the Spirit neither spoke nor moved I am in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come said Scrooge The Spirit answered not but pointed onward with its hand You are about to show me shadows of the things that have not happened but will happen in the time before us Scrooge pursued Is that so Spirit The upper portion of the garme

3、nt was contracted for an instant in its folds as if the Spirit had inclined its head That was the only answer he received Although well used to ghostly company by this time Scrooge feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled beneath him and he found that he could hardly stand when he prepared to follow it The Spirit paused a moment as observing his condition and giving him time to recover But Scrooge was all the worse for this It thrilled him with a vague uncertain horror to know that

4、 behind the dusky shroud there were ghostly eyes intently fixed upon him while he though he stretched his own to the utmost could see nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black Ghost of the Future he exclaimed I fear you more than any spectre I have seen But as I know your purpose si to do me good and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was I am prepared to bear you company and do it with a thankful heart Will you not speak to me It gave him no reply The hand was pointed

5、 straight before them Lead on said Scrooge Lead on The night is waning fast and it is precious time to me I know Lead on Spirit The Phantom moved away as it had come towards him Scrooge followed in the shadow of its dress which bore him up he thought and carried him along They scarcely seemed to enter the city for the city rather seemed to spring up about them and encompass them of its own act But there they were in the heart of it on Change amongst the merchants who hurried up and down and chin

6、ked the money in their pockets and conversed in groups and looked at their watches and trifled thoughtfully with their great gold seals and so forth as Scrooge had seen them often The Spirit stopped beside one little knot of business men Observing that the hand was pointed to them Scrooge advanced to listen to their talk No said a great fat man with a monstrous chin I don t know much about it either way I only know he s dead When did he die inquired another Last night I believe Why what was the

7、matter with him asked a third taking a vast quantity of snuff out of a very large snuff box I thought he d never die God knows said the first with a yawn What has he done with his money asked a red faced gentleman with a pendulous excrescence on the end of his nose that shook like the gills of a turkey cock I haven t heard said the man with the large chin yawning again Left it to his Company perhaps He hasn t left it to me That s all I know This pleasantry was received with a general laugh It s

8、likely to be a very cheap funeral said the same speaker for upon my life I don t know of anybody to go to it Suppose we make up a party and volunteer I don t mind going if a lunch is provided observed the gentleman with the excrescence on his nose But I must be fed if I make one Another laugh Well I am the most disinterested among you after all said the first speaker for I never wear black gloves and I never eat lunch But I ll offer to go if anybody else will When I come to think of it I m not a

9、t all sure that I wasn t his most particular friend for we used to stop and speak whenever we met Bye bye Speakers and listeners strolled away and mixed with other groups Scrooge knew the men and looked towards the Spirit for an explanation The Phantom glided on into a street Its finger pointed to two persons meeting Scrooge listened again thinking that the explanation might lie here He knew these men also perfectly They were men of business very wealthy and of great importance He had made a poi

10、nt always of standing well in their esteem in a business point of view that is strictly in a business point of view How are you said one How are you returned the other Well said the first Old Scratch has got his own at last hey So I am told returned the second Cold isn t it Seasonable for Christmas time You re not a skaiter I suppose No No Something else to think of Good morning Not another word That was their meeting their conversation and their parting Scrooge was at first inclined to be surpr

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