Chapter 5

           Yes!andthebedpostwashisown.Thebedwashisown,theroomwashisown.Bestandhappiestofall,theTimebeforehimwashisown,tomakeamendsin!

           ‘IwillliveinthePast,thePresent,andtheFuture.’Scroogerepeated,ashescrambledoutofbed.‘TheSpiritsofallThreeshallstrivewithinme.Oh,JacobMarley,Heaven,andtheChristmasTimebepraisedforthis.Isayitonmyknees,oldJacob,onmyknees.’

           Hewassoflutteredandsoglowingwithhisgoodintentions,thathisbrokenvoicewouldscarcelyanswertohiscall.HehadbeensobbingviolentlyinhisconflictwiththeSpirit,andhisfacewaswetwithtears.

           ‘Theyarenottorndown!’criedScrooge,foldingoneofhisbed-curtainsinhisarms,‘theyarenottorndown,ringsandall.Theyarehere—Iamhere—theshadowsofthethingsthatwouldhavebeen,maybedispelled.Theywillbe!Iknowtheywill.’

           Hishandswerebusywithhisgarmentsallthistime;turningtheminsideout,puttingthemonupsidedown,tearingthem,mislayingthem,makingthempartiestoeverykindofextravagance.

           ‘Idon’tknowwhattodo!’criedScrooge,laughingandcryinginthesamebreath;andmakingaperfectLaocoonofhimselfwithhisstockings.‘Iamaslightasafeather,Iamashappyasanangel,Iamasmerryasaschoolboy!Iamasgiddyasadrunkenman!AmerryChristmastoeverybody!AhappyNewYeartoalltheworld!Hallohere!Whoop!Hallo!’

           Hehadfriskedintothesitting-room,andwasnowstandingthere:perfectlywinded.