asked Scrooge . `` My life upon this globe is very brief , '' replied the Ghost . `` It ends to-night . '' `` To-night ! '' cried Scrooge . `` To-night at midnight . Hark ! The time is drawing near . '' The chimes were ringing the three-quarters past eleven at that moment . `` Forgive me if I am not justified in what I ask , '' said Scrooge , looking intently at the Spirit 's robe , `` but I see something strange , and not belonging to yourself , protruding from your skirts . Is it a foot or a claw ? '' `` It might be a claw , for the flesh there is upon it , '' was the Spirit 's sorrowful reply . `` Look here . '' From the foldings of its robe it brought two children ; wretched , abject , frightful , hideous , miserable . They knelt down at its feet , and clung upon the outside of its garment . `` Oh , Man ! look here ! Look , look , down here ! '' exclaimed the Ghost . They were a boy and girl .
Yellow , meagre , ragged , scowling , wolfish ; but prostrate , too , XXXXX their humility .
at foldings for from if in of three-quarters to upon