The brisk fire of questioning to which he was exposed elicited from him that he was thinking of an animal , a live animal , rather a disagreeable animal , a savage animal , an animal that growled and grunted sometimes , and talked sometimes , and lived in London , and walked about the streets , and was n't made a show of , and was n't led by anybody , and did n't live in a menagerie , and was never killed in a market , and was not a horse , or an ass , or a cow , or a bull , or a tiger , or a dog , or a pig , or a cat , or a bear . At every fresh question that was put to him , this nephew burst into a fresh roar of laughter ; and was so inexpressibly tickled , that he was obliged to get up off the sofa , and stamp . At last the plump sister , falling into a similar state , cried out : `` I have found it out ! I know what it is , Fred ! I know what it is ! '' `` What is it ? '' cried Fred . `` It 's your uncle Scro-o-o-o-oge ! '' Which it certainly was . Admiration was the universal sentiment , though some objected that the reply to `` Is it a bear ? '' ought to have been `` Yes '' : inasmuch as an answer in the negative was sufficient to have diverted their thoughts from Mr. Scrooge , supposing they had ever had any tendency that way . `` He has given us plenty of merriment , I am sure , '' said Fred , `` and it would be ungrateful not to drink his health . Here is a glass of mulled wine ready to our hand at the moment ; and I say , ` Uncle Scrooge ! ' '' `` Well ! Uncle Scrooge ! '' they cried . `` A merry Christmas and a happy New Year to the old man , whatever he is ! '' said Scrooge 's nephew . `` He would n't take it from me , but may he have it nevertheless . Uncle Scrooge ! ''
Uncle Scrooge had imperceptibly become so gay and light of heart , that he would have pledged the unconscious company XXXXX return , and thanked them in an inaudible speech , if the Ghost had given him time .
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