All. Ha, ha, ha! [Exeunt door in flat, old Joe lighting them out. ]
Scro. Spirit! I see, I see. This is my own case, if nothing happens to change it. My life tends this way. Spirit, in leaving this. I shall not leave its lesson; trust me. If there is any person in the city who feels the least emotion for the death here announced, show that person to me. [Crosses to L., while scene closes in .]
James. Bad.
Mrs B. We are quite ruined?
James. No. There is hope yet, Caroline.
Mrs. B. If he relents, there is. Nothing is past hope, if such a miracle has happened.
James. He is past relenting. He is dead.
Mrs. B. Dead! Thank Heaven; we are saved. (Pause. ) I pray forgiveness, I am sorry that I gave expression to the emotions of my heart.
James. What the half drunken woman, whom I told you of last night, said to me when I tried to see him and obtain a week's delay, and what I thought was a mere excuse to avoid me, turns out to have been quite true. He was not only very ill, but dying then.
Mrs. B. To whom will our debt be transferred?
James. I don't know, and I have been unable to ascertain. At all events, before that time we shall be ready with the money; and even though we were not, it would be a bad fortune indeed to find so merciless a creditor in his successor. We may sleep to-night with light hearts, Caroline!
Mrs. B. Yes; and our dear children will be brighter when they find the gloom dispelled from the minds of their parents. We cannot deny that this man's death has occasioned some happiness.
James. Come, let us hurry home [Exeunt , R.]
Scro. Spirit, it is evident that the only emotion you can show me, caused by the event foreshadowed, is one of pleasure. Let me see some tenderness connected with the death of another, or what has just been shown me will be forever present in my mind.
SCENE V. Bob Cratchit's home. Mrs. Cratchit, Belinda, Little Cratchit and Peter Cratchit discovered at table, the two former sewing and the latter reading a book.
Peter. (Reading. ) And he took a child and set him in the midst of them.
Scro. Where have I heard those words? I have not dreamed them. Why does he not go on?
Mrs C. (Betrays emotions; lays her work upon the table, and puts her hand to her face. ) The color hurts my eyes.
Bel. Yes, poor Tiny Tim!
Mrs. C. They're better now. It makes them weak by candle-light; and I wouldn't show weak eyes to your father when he comes home, for the world. It must be near his time. (Resumes her work. )
Peter. Past it, rather (shutting up book ),
but I think he has walked a little slower than he used, these last few evenings, mother.
Mrs. C. (In a faltering voice. ) I have known him walk with I have known him walk with Tiny Tim upon his shoulder very fast indeed.
Peter. And so have I, often.
Bel. And so have I.
Mrs. C. But he was very light to carry, and his father loved him so, that it was no trouble; no trouble. And there is your father at the door.
Mrs. C. Sunday! You went to-day, then, Robert?
Bob. Yes, my dear; I wish you could have gone, it would have done you good to see how green a place it is. But you'll see it often. I promised him that I would walk there on a Sunday. My little, little child! my little child! (Rises and retires up stage to compose himself; returns and resumes his place at the table. ) Oh, I must tell you of the extraordinary kindness of Mr Scrooge's nephew, whom I have scarcely seen but once, and who, meeting me in the street, and seeing that I looked a little just a little down, you know, inquired what had happened to distress me. On which, for he is the pleasantest-spoken gentleman you ever heard, I told him. I am heartily sorry for it, Mr. Cratchit, he said, and heartily sorry for your good wife. By-the-bye, how he ever knew that , I don't know.
Mrs. C. Knew what, my dear?
Bob. Why, that you were a good wife.
Peter. Everybody knows that!
Bob. Very well observed, my boy. I hope they do. Heartily sorry, he said, for your good wife. If I can be of service to you in any way, he said, giving me his card, that's where I live; pray come to me. Now, it wasn't for the sake of anything he might be able to do for us, so much as for his kind way, that this was quite delightful. It really seemed as if he had known our Tiny Tim, and felt with us.
Mrs. C. I'm sure he's a good soul.
Bob. You would be sure of it, my dear, if you saw and spoke to him. I shouldn't be at all surprised mark my words if he got Peter a better situation.
Mrs. C. Only hear that, Peter.
Bel. And then Peter will be keeping company with some one, and setting up for himself.