The Annotated Christmas Carol – A Christmas Carol in Prose: 0 (The Annotated Books)

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Spirit.’ he cried, tight clutching at its robe ,’ hear me . I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope.’ This might have lasted half a minute, or a minute, but it seemed an hour . The bells ceased as they had begun, together. They were succeeded by a clanking noise, deep down below; as if some person were dragging a heavy chain over the casks in the wine merchant’s cellar. Scrooge then remembered to have heard that ghosts in haunted houses were described as dragging chains.

If there is any person in the town, who feels emotion caused by this man’s death,’ said Scrooge quite agonised, `show that person to me , Spirit, I beseech you.’ She hurried out to meet him; and little Bob in his comforter -- he had need of it, poor fellow -- came in. His tea was ready for him on the hob, and they all tried who should help him to it most. Then the two young Cratchits got upon his knees and laid, each child a little cheek, against his face, as if they said,’ Don’t mind it, father. Don’t be grieved.’ They were very quiet again. At last she said, and in a steady, cheerful voice, that only faltered once:I do,’ said Scrooge. `Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough.’ We have no doubt his liberality is well represented by his surviving partner,’ said the gentleman, presenting his credentials. His nephew left the room without an angry word, notwithstanding. He stopped at the outer door to bestow the greetings of the season on the clerk, who cold as he was, was warmer than Scrooge; for he returned them cordially. This lunatic , in letting Scrooge’s nephew out, had let two other people in. They were portly gentlemen , pleasant to behold, and now stood, with their hats off, in Scrooge’s office. They had books and papers in their hands, and bowed to him.

He sat down to the dinner that had been boarding for him by the fire; and when she asked him faintly what news (which was not until after a long silence), he appeared embarrassed how to answer. He turned upon the Ghost, and seeing that it looked upon him with a face, in which in some strange way there were fragments of all the faces it had shown him, wrestled with it. She clapped her hands and laughed, and tried to touch his head; but being too little, laughed again, and stood on tiptoe to embrace him. Then she began to drag him, in her childish eagerness, towards the door; and he, nothing loth to go, accompanied her.

While he did this, the woman who had already spoken threw her bundle on the floor, and sat down in a flaunting manner on a stool; crossing her elbows on her knees, and looking with a bold defiance at the other two. I have come to bring you home, dear brother.’ said the child, clapping her tiny hands, and bending down to laugh. `To bring you home, home, home.’