`` Long Past ? '' inquired Scrooge ; observant of its dwarfish stature . `` No . Your past . '' Perhaps Scrooge could not have told anybody why , if anybody could have asked him ; but he had a special desire to see the Spirit in his cap ; and begged him to be covered . `` What ! '' exclaimed the Ghost , `` would you so soon put out , with worldly hands , the light I give ? Is it not enough that you are one of those whose passions made this cap , and force me through whole trains of years to wear it low upon my brow ? '' Scrooge reverently disclaimed all intention to offend or any knowledge of having wilfully `` bonneted '' the Spirit at any period of his life . He then made bold to inquire what business brought him there . `` Your welfare ! '' said the Ghost . Scrooge expressed himself much obliged , but could not help thinking that a night of unbroken rest would have been more conducive to that end . The Spirit must have heard him thinking , for it said immediately : `` Your reclamation , then . Take heed ! '' It put out its strong hand as it spoke , and clasped him gently by the arm . `` Rise ! and walk with me ! '' It would have been in vain for Scrooge to plead that the weather and the hour were not adapted to pedestrian purposes ; that bed was warm , and the thermometer a long way below freezing ; that he was clad but lightly in his slippers , dressing-gown , and nightcap ; and that he had a cold upon him at that time . The grasp , though gentle as a woman 's hand , was not to be resisted .
He rose : but , finding XXXXX the Spirit made towards the window , clasped its robe in supplication .
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