`` 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 to go , accompanied her . A terrible voice in the hall cried , `` Bring down Master Scrooge 's box , there ! '' and in the hall appeared the schoolmaster himself , who glared on Master Scrooge with a ferocious condescension , and threw him into a dreadful state of mind by shaking hands with him . He then conveyed him and his sister into the veriest old well of a shivering best parlour that ever was seen , where the maps upon the wall , and the celestial and terrestrial globes in the windows , were waxy with cold . Here he produced a decanter of curiously light wine , and a block of curiously heavy cake , and administered instalments of those dainties to the young people : at the same time sending out a meagre servant to offer a glass of `` something '' to the postboy who answered that he thanked the gentleman , but , if it was the same tap as he had tasted before , he had rather not . Master Scrooge 's trunk being by this time tied on to the top of the chaise , the children bade the schoolmaster good-bye right willingly ; and , getting into it , drove gaily down the garden sweep ; the quick wheels dashing the hoar frost and snow from off the dark leaves of the evergreens like spray . `` Always a delicate creature , whom a breath might have withered , '' said the Ghost . `` But she had a large heart ! '' `` So she had , '' cried Scrooge . `` You 're right . I will not gainsay it , Spirit . God forbid ! '' `` She died a woman , '' said the Ghost , `` and had , as I think , children . '' `` One child , '' Scrooge returned . `` True , '' said the Ghost . `` Your nephew ! '' Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind ; and answered briefly , `` Yes . ''
Although they had but that moment left the school behind them , they were now in the busy thoroughfares XXXXX a city , where shadowy passengers passed and repassed ; where shadowy carts and coaches battled for the way , and all the strife and tumult of a real city were .
as at by into of that to towards upon with