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 in all the world . '' `` You are quite a woman , little Fan ! '' exclaimed the boy . She clapped her hands and laughed , and tried to touch his head ; but , being too little , laughed again , and stood on tiptoe to embrace him .
Then she began to drag him , in her childish eagerness , towards the door ; and he , nothing loath XXXXX go , accompanied her .
about as if in like of than to towards with