Рождественская история

           Therewasaneager,greedy,restlessmotionintheeye,whichshowedthepassionthathadtakenroot,andwheretheshadowofthegrowingtreewouldfall.

           Hewasnotalone,butsatbythesideofafairyounggirlinamourning-dress:inwhoseeyesthereweretears,whichsparkledinthelightthatshoneoutoftheGhostofChristmasPast.

           ‘Itmatterslittle,’shesaid,softly.‘Toyou,verylittle.Anotheridolhasdisplacedme;andifitcancheerandcomfortyouintimetocome,asIwouldhavetriedtodo,Ihavenojustcausetogrieve.’

           ‘WhatIdolhasdisplacedyou?’herejoined.

           ‘Agoldenone.’

           ‘Thisistheeven-handeddealingoftheworld,’hesaid.‘Thereisnothingonwhichitissohardaspoverty;andthereisnothingitprofessestocondemnwithsuchseverityasthepursuitofwealth.’

           ‘Youfeartheworldtoomuch,’sheanswered,gently.‘Allyourotherhopeshavemergedintothehopeofbeingbeyondthechanceofitssordidreproach.Ihaveseenyournobleraspirationsfalloffonebyone,untilthemaster-passion,Gain,engrossesyou.HaveInot?’

           ‘Whatthen?’heretorted.‘EvenifIhavegrownsomuchwiser,whatthen?Iamnotchangedtowardsyou.’

           Sheshookherhead.

           ‘AmI?’

           ‘Ourcontractisanoldone.Itwasmadewhenwewerebothpoorandcontenttobeso,until,ingoodseason,wecouldimproveourworldlyfortunebyourpatientindustry.Youarechanged.Whenitwasmade,youwereanotherman.’

           ‘Iwasaboy,’hesaidimpatiently.