“In words, no.  Never.”

“In what, then?”

“In a changed nature; in an altered spirit; in another atmosphere of life; another Hope as its great end.  If you were free to-day, to-morrow, yesterday, can even I believe that you would choose a dowerless girl; or, choosing her, do I not know that your repentance and regret would surely follow?  I do; and I release you.  With a full heart, for the love of him you once were.”

“Spirit! remove me from this place.”

“I told you these were shadows of the things that have been,” said the Ghost.  “That they are what they are, do not blame me!”

“Remove me!” Scrooge exclaimed.  “I cannot bear it!  Leave me!  Take me back.  Haunt me no longer!”

As he struggled with the Spirit he was conscious of being exhausted, and overcome by an irresistible drowsiness; and, further, of being in his own bedroom.  He had barely time to reel to bed before he sank into a heavy sleep.

STAVE THREE

THE SECOND OF THE THREE SPIRITS

Scrooge awoke in his own bedroom.  There was no doubt about that.  But it and his own adjoining sitting-room, into which he shuffled in his slippers, attracted by a great light there, had undergone a surprising transformation.  The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove.  The leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there; and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney, as that petrifaction of a hearth had never known in Scrooge’s time, or Marley’s, or for many and many a winter season gone.  Heaped upon the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and great bowls of punch.  In easy state upon this couch there sat a Giant glorious to see; who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty’s horn, and who raised it high to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door.

“Come in,—­come in! and know me better, man!  I am the Ghost of Christmas Present.  Look upon me!  You have never seen the like of me before!”

“Never.”

“Have never walked forth with the younger members of my family; meaning (for I am very young) my elder brothers born in these later years?” pursued the Phantom.

“I don’t think I have, I am afraid I have not.  Have you had many brothers, Spirit?”

“More than eighteen hundred.”

“A tremendous family to provide for!  Spirit, conduct me where you will.  I went forth last night on compulsion, and I learnt a lesson which is working now.  To-night, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.”

“Touch my robe!”