Christmas Carol 64 recto

64

Mr. Scrooge, are you serious?”

“If you please,” said Scrooge. “Not a farthing less. A great many omitted back-
payments are included in it, I assure you. Will you do me that favor?”

“My dear sir!” cried the other, shaking hands with him again. “I don’t know
what to say to such munifice?? munifi munifi—”

“Don’t say anything, please,” retorted Scrooge. “Come and see me. Will you
come and see me?”

“I will!” cried the old gentleman. And it [will] was clear he meant to do it.

“Thank’ee,” said Scrooge. “I am much obliged to you. I thank you fifty times.
[Goodbye] God bless you!”

[?????] He went to church and walked about the streets, and watched the
people hurrying to and fro, and patted children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of houses, and
up to the windows; and found that anything could yield him pleasure. He
[had ] had never dreamed that could [be] that any walk, or any [s???? offer] for [taci?]—that anything—could give him so much
mea??? happiness. When it g[ot] In the afternoon he turned his steps towards his
nephew’s house.

He often passed the house door a and ?? dozen times, before he had the courage to go up
and knock. But he made a plunge dash dash, and did it:

“Is your master at home my dear?” said Scrooge to the girl. A nNice girl! [had] Very.

“Yes Sir.”

“Where is he? You my love?” said Scrooge.

“He is He’s in the dining-room Sir, along with mistress. I’ll shew you up-
stairs, if you please.”

“ ?? Thank’ee. He knows me,” said Scrooge, with with his hand already on the dining-room
lock. “I’ll go in here, my dear.”

He turned it [softly] gently, and looked in [for] sidled his face in, round the door. They were
looking at the table (which was spread out ????? in great array); [as] for these
young housekeepers are always fidgety nervous on such points, and like to see
that everything is right.

“Fred!” said Scrooge.

Good Heaven [to see] Dear heart alive, how his niece by marriage, started! Scrooge had for-
gotten for the moment, about her sitting in the corner with the footstool, or he
wouldn’t have done it, on any account. It was very imprudent. There’s no looking glass.

“Why bless my soul!” cried Fred, “Is that who’s that?”

“Your uncle. Your uncle It’s I It’s I. Your uncle Fred [Scrooge] Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let
me in, [dear] Fred?”

Let him in! It’s a mercy mercy mercy he didn’t shake his arm off. He was at home
in five minutes. Nothing could be heartier. His niece looked just the same. So did
Topper, when he came. So did the plump sister, So did every one when she came. So did every
one when they came. [Scrooge ] Wonderful evening, wonderful games, wonderful