Christmas Carol 32 recto

32

whence, on further tracing it, it seemed to shine. This idea taking full possession of
his mind he got up softly, and shuffled in his slippers
to the door.

The [?????] moment Scrooge’s [popped in his head] hand was on the lock, a strange voice called
him by his name, and bade him enter. He [complied popping his head and saw/said/s??] obeyed, thrusting in his
head.

It was his own room. There was no doubt about that. But it had
undergone a most surprising transformation. The walls and ceiling were so
hung with [holly?/hung?, mistletoe and ivy] living green, that it had become looked a perfect grove, from
every part of which bright red glowing gleaming berries [shone like jewels] glistened. The crisp
leaves of the holly, mistletoe, and ivy, reflected back the light, [like mirrors] as if
so many little mirrors had been scattered there; and such a mighty blaze
went roaring up the chimney as that dull petrifaction of a hearth had never
known in Scrooge’s time, or Marley’s, or for many and many a winter season
gone. Heaped up upon the floor, [to form a kind of throne] to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry,
brawn, great joints of meat, suckling pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum puddings, barrels of oysters, red hot chestnuts,
[cherry-cheeked apples shining-faced] cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense
twelfth cakes, and seething bowls of Punch, [alight with flames upon this]
[????] that made the chamber dim with their delicious [????]
steam. [???] In easy state upon this [???] couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see,
who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty’s horn, and [??? ?? ????] held it up,
[?? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??] high up, to [???? ??] shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping
round the door.

[???? ??? ??? ???] “Come in!” exclaimed the Ghost. [??? ??? ???] “Come in! and know me better
man!”

Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before this Spirit. He was not the
dogged Scrooge he had been; and though (its eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them.”

[???? ????? ???] “I am the Ghost of Christmas Present,” said the Spirit. “Look upon
me!”

Scrooge reverently did so. It was clothed in one simple, deep green robe or mantle bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its
capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed
by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment,
were also bare: and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly
wreath set here and there, with shining icicles. Its [???? ???] dark brown curls
[???? ??? ????? ? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??????] were long and free: free as its genial face, its spar-
kling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained
demeanour, and its joyful air. Girded round its middle
was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient
sheath was eaten up with rust.

“You have never seen the like of me before!” exclaimed