For again Scrooge saw himself . He was older now ; a man in the prime of life . His face had not the harsh and rigid lines of later years ; but it had begun to wear the signs of care and avarice . There was an eager , greedy , restless motion in the eye , which showed the passion that had taken root , and where the shadow of the growing tree would fall . He was not alone , but sat by the side of a fair young girl in a mourning dress : in whose eyes there were tears , which sparkled in the light that shone out of the Ghost of Christmas Past . `` It matters little , '' she said softly . `` To you , very little . Another idol has displaced me ; and , if it can cheer and comfort you in time to come as I would have tried to do , I have no just cause to grieve . '' `` What Idol has displaced you ? '' he rejoined . `` A golden one . '' `` This is the even-handed dealing of the world ! '' he said . `` There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty ; and there is nothing it professes to condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth ! '' `` You fear the world too much , '' she answered gently . `` All your other hopes have merged into the hope of being beyond the chance of its sordid reproach . I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one , until the master passion , Gain , engrosses you . Have I not ? '' `` What then ? '' he retorted .
`` Even XXXXX I have grown so much wiser , what then ?
For To as by if in into of on until