‘‘And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them.’
‘Where had Scrooge heard those words? He had not dreamed them. The boy must have read them out, as he and the Spirit crossed the threshhold. Why did he not go on?
‘The mother laid her work upon the table, and put her hand up to her face.
‘‘The color hurts my eyes,’ she said.
‘The color? Ah, poor Tiny Tim!
‘‘They’re better now again,’ said Cratchit’s wife. ‘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.’
‘‘Past it, rather,’ Peter answered, shutting up his book. ‘But I think he’s walked a little slower than he used, these few last evenings, mother.’
‘They were very quiet again. At last she said, and in a steady, cheerful voice, that only faltered once:
‘‘I have known him walk with—I have known him walk with Tiny Tim upon his shoulder, very fast, indeed.’
‘‘And so have I,’ cried Peter. ‘Often.’