A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens(2)

‘At that time—I may ask, at what time, sir?’
‘I speak, miss, of twenty years ago. He married—an
English lady—and I was one of the trustees. His affairs,
like the affairs of many other French gentlemen and
French families, were entirely in Tellson’s hands. In a
similar way I am, or I have been, trustee of one kind or
other for scores of our customers. These are mere business
relations, miss; there is no friendship in them, no particular
interest, nothing like sentiment. I have passed from one to
another, in the course of my business life, just as I pass
from one of our customers to another in the course of my
business day; in short, I have no feelings; I am a mere
machine. To go on—‘
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‘But this is my father’s story, sir; and I begin to think’
—the curiously roughened forehead was very intent upon
him—‘that when I was left an orphan through my
mother’s surviving my father only two years, it was you
who brought me to England. I am almost sure it was you.’

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

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Book the First—Recalled to Life
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I
The Period
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was
the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the
epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the
season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the
spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had
everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were
all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the
other way—in short, the period was so far like the present
period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its
being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative
degree of comparison only.
There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a
plain face, on the throne of England; there were a king
with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the
throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than
crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves and
fishes, that things in general were settled for ever.
It was the year of Our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and seventy-five. Spiritual revelations were
conceded to England at that favoured period, as at this.
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A Tale of Two Cities

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens(6)

"Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you
point,’ said Scrooge, ‘answer me one question. Are these
the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they
shadows of things that May be, only.’
Still the Ghost pointed downward to the grave by
which it stood.
‘Men’s courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which,
if persevered in, they must lead,’ said Scrooge. ‘But if the
courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is
thus with what you show me.’
The Spirit was immovable as ever.
Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as he went; and
following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected
grave his own name, Ebenezer Scrooge.
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‘Am I that man who lay upon the bed.’ he cried, upon
his knees.
The finger pointed from the grave to him, and back
again.
‘No, Spirit. Oh no, no.’
The finger still was there.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens(5)

‘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.’
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The upper portion of the garment 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 pauses a
moment, as observing his condition, and giving him time
to recover.
But Scrooge was all the worse for this.