Christmas Carol 18 recto

18

warned him of a visitation when the bell tolled one. He could have dispensed with this resolved to lie awake
until the hour was past: and ???? a [vision] of his fancy and ???? considering that he could no more go to sleep than
go to Heaven, was perhaps philosophy [in] Scrooge this was perhaps the wisest resolution he could make. in his power.

The quarter was so long, that he was more than once convinced he must
have gone to sleep sunk into a doze unconsciously, and missed the clock. At length it broke upon his listening
ear:

“Ding Dong!”

“A quarter past,” said Scrooge, counting.

“Ding Dong!”

“Half past,” said Scrooge,

“Ding Dong!”

“A quarter to it,” said Scrooge.

“ Ding Dong!”

“The full hour hour itself,” said Scrooge, triumphantly, “and no spirit Humbug, of course Humbug and nothing else!”

He spoke before the hour bell sounded, which it now did with
a deep, dull, hollow, melancholy stroke ONE. The room was light Light flashed up in the room upon
the instant, and the curtains of his bed were drawn.

The curtains of his bed were drawn aside, I tell you, by a hand.
Not the curtains at his foot, no feet, nor the curtains at his back,
but the curtains [?????] those to which his face was ?????? addressed. The curtains of his
bed were drawn aside; and Scrooge, starting up so that he rested on his into a half-recumbent attitude,
hands found himself face to face with the Spirit unearthly visitor who drew them—as close
to [him] it as I am now to you, and I am ????? standing ???????? ??? in the Spirit of [conscience?] at your elbow!

It was a strange figure—like a child ???? at first : yet not so
like a child, as like an old man viewed through some [????ing] supernatural medium
which gave him the appearance of having receded from the view, and
being diminished to a child’s proportions. Its hair, [was] ???? which hung about its neck and ???? and down its back, was white as if with
age; and yet the face had not a wrinkle on wrinkle ?????? on it, and the tenderest bloom
was on the [cheeks?] skin. The arms were very long and muscular; the
hands of most uncommon strength the same; as if its hold were of uncommon strength.
Its ???? ???? ???? legs and [foo.?] feet, most delicately formed, were like its those
upper members, bare. It wore a tunic of the purest white; and round its
waist, was clasped a [??????ing] bound a lustrous belt, the sheen of which was beautiful. It
held a branch of fresh fresh green holly in its hand; and ?? ?? ??? ?? ??? in singular contradiction of
that wintry emblem [ ?] wintry emblem, had its dress ??????? trimmed ????
trimmed with summer flowers. But the strangest thing about it, was,
that from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light, by which ??????
???ed ???? unde??? all this was visible; and which was doubtless the
occasion of its using, in its duller moments, a great extinguisher for