Scrooge was not much in the habit of cracking jokes , nor did he feel in his heart by any means waggish then . The truth is , that he tried to be smart , as a means of distracting his own attention , and keeping down his terror ; for the spectre 's voice disturbed the very marrow in his bones . To sit staring at those fixed glazed eyes in silence , for a moment , would play , Scrooge felt , the very deuce with him . There was something very awful , too , in the spectre 's being provided with an infernal atmosphere of his own . Scrooge could not feel it himself , but this was clearly the case ; for though the Ghost sat perfectly motionless , its hair , and skirts , and tassels were still agitated as by the hot vapour from an oven . `` You see this toothpick ? '' said Scrooge , returning quickly to the charge , for the reason just assigned ; and wishing , though it were only for a second , to divert the vision 's stony gaze from himself . `` I do , '' replied the Ghost . `` You are not looking at it , '' said Scrooge . `` But I see it , '' said the Ghost , `` notwithstanding . '' `` Well ! '' returned Scrooge , `` I have but to swallow this , and be for the rest of my days persecuted by a legion of goblins , all of my own creation . Humbug , I tell you ; humbug ! '' At this the spirit raised a frightful cry , and shook its chain with such a dismal and appalling noise , that Scrooge held on tight to his chair , to save himself from falling in a swoon . But how much greater was his horror when the phantom , taking off the bandage round his head , as if it were too warm to wear indoors , its lower jaw dropped down upon its breast ! Scrooge fell upon his knees , and clasped his hands before his face . `` Mercy ! '' he said . `` Dreadful apparition , why do you trouble me ? '' `` Man of the worldly mind ! ''
replied the Ghost , `` do you believe XXXXX me or not ? ''
At as by from in of on though to upon