Of course, the Ghost did not have any of it and grabbed on the old man, terrified. In a matter of seconds, without any logic with the giant's size, they found themselves outside. But not simply out of the house, but in front of Fred's. What being at his nephew's for ? Plus, in the middle of the snow, he did not feel cold. The Ghost laughed at his confusion "What you will see is the reflection of this year's Christmas, and not reality. Needless to try intervening." To get over with this, Scrooge heade toward the lit up window and watched. Fred, his spouse and their friends were feasting for Christmas. He had arrived just in time to hear the guests mock the uncle's usual absence, call him every name under the sun and try to convince their host into ceasing insisting like every year. Fred, half-amuse by their mocking and half-disappointed by his absence, confessed he did not hate him but felt pity for that man and felt he had to at least invite him out of duty as his sole maternal relative rather than out of affection. Hearing that, strangely, hurt Scrooge. It was true he hardly ever paid attention to his only nephew, but he looked so much like Fan that just looking at him hurt...

A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge, the Ghost of Christmas Present, Fred and his wife © Charles Dickens
Drawing © me