belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a
good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant
time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar
of the year, when men and women seem by one consent 
to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think
of people below them as if they really were 
fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race 
of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore,
uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or
silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me
good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!'

     The clerk in the Tank involuntarily applauded.
Becoming immediately sensible of the impropriety,
he poked the fire, and extinguished the last frail spark
for ever.

     `Let me hear another sound from you,' said
Scrooge, `and you'll keep your Christmas by losing
your situation! You're quite a powerful speaker,
sir,' he added, turning to his nephew. `I wonder you
don't go into Parliament.'

     `Don't be angry, uncle. Come! Dine with us tomorrow.'

     Scrooge said that he would see him -- yes, indeed he
did. He went the whole length of the expression,
and said that he would see him in that extremity first.

     `But why?' cried Scrooge's nephew. `Why?'

     `Why did you get married?' said Scrooge.

     `Because I fell in love.'

     `Because you fell in love!' growled Scrooge, as if
that were the only one thing in the world more ridiculous 
than a merry Christmas. `Good afternoon!'

     `Nay, uncle, but you never came to see me before
that happened. Why give it as a reason for not
coming now?'

     `Good afternoon,' said Scrooge.

     `I want nothing from you; I ask nothing of you;
why cannot we be friends?'

     `Good afternoon,' said Scrooge.

     `I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so 
resolute. We have never had any quarrel, to which I
have been a party. But I have made the trial in
homage to Christmas, and I'll keep my Christmas
humour to the last. So A Merry Christmas, uncle!'

     `Good afternoon,' said Scrooge.

     `And A Happy New Year!'

     `Good afternoon,' said Scrooge.

     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.

     `There's another fellow,' muttered Scrooge; who
overheard him: `my clerk, with fifteen shillings a
week, and a wife and family, talking about a merry
Christmas. I'll retire to Bedlam.'

     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.

     `Scrooge and Marley's, I believe,' said one of the
gentlemen, referring to his list. `Have I the pleasure
of addressing Mr. Scrooge, or Mr. Marley?'

     `Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years,'
Scrooge replied. `He died seven years ago, this very
night.'

     `We have no doubt his liberality is well represented
by his surviving partner,' said the gentleman, presenting 
his credentials.

     It certainly was; for they had been two kindred
spirits. At the ominous word `liberality,' Scrooge
frowned, and shook his head, and handed the credentials 
back.

     `At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,'
said the gentleman, taking up a pen, `it is more than
usually desirable that we should make some slight
provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer