I should like to have given him something : that 's all . '' The Ghost smiled thoughtfully , and waved its hand : saying , as it did so , `` Let us see another Christmas ! '' Scrooge 's former self grew larger at the words , and the room became a little darker and more dirty . The panels shrunk , the windows cracked ; fragments of plaster fell out of the ceiling , and the naked laths were shown instead ; but how all this was brought about Scrooge knew no more than you do . He only knew that it was quite correct : that everything had happened so ; that there he was , alone again , when all the other boys had gone home for the jolly holidays . He was not reading now , but walking up and down despairingly . Scrooge looked at the Ghost , and , with a mournful shaking of his head , glanced anxiously towards the door . It opened ; and a little girl , much younger than the boy , came darting in , and , putting her arms about his neck , and often kissing him , addressed him as her `` dear , dear brother . '' `` I have come to bring you home , dear brother ! '' said the child , clapping her tiny hands , and bending down to laugh . `` To bring you home , home , home ! '' `` Home , little Fan ? '' returned the boy . `` Yes ! '' said the child , brimful of glee . `` Home for good and all . Home for ever and ever . Father is so much kinder than he used to be , that home 's like Heaven ! He spoke so gently to me one dear night when I was going to bed , that I was not afraid to ask him once more if you might come home ; and he said Yes , you should ; and sent me in a coach to bring you . And you 're to be a man ! ''
said the child , opening her eyes ; `` and are never to come back here ; but first we 're to be together all the Christmas long , and have the merriest time XXXXX all the world . ''
To about as at if in like of than with