"Hear me!" cried the Ghost. "My time is nearly
gone."
"I will," said Scrooge. "But don't be hard upon
me! Don't be flowery, Jacob! Pray!"
"How it is that I appear before you in a shape that
you can see, I may not tell. I have sat invisible
beside you many and many a day."
It was not an agreeable idea. Scrooge shivered,
and wiped the perspiration from his brow.
"That is no light part of my penance," pursued
the Ghost. "I am here to-night to warn you, that you
have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate. A
chance and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer."
"You were always a good friend to me," said
Scrooge. "Thank'ee!"
"You will be haunted," resumed the Ghost, "by
Three Spirits."
Scrooge's countenance fell almost as low as the
Ghost's had done.
"Is that the chance and hope you mentioned,
Jacob?" he demanded, in a faltering voice.
"It is."
"I--I think I'd rather not," said Scrooge.
"Without their visits," said the Ghost, "you cannot
hope to shun the path I tread. Expect the first to-morrow,
when the bell tolls One."
"Couldn't I take 'em all at once, and have it over,
Jacob?" hinted Scrooge.
23