counting- house arrived. With an ill-will Scrooge dismounted from his stool,
and tacitly admitted the fact to the expectant clerk in the Tank, who instantly
snuffed his candle out, and put on his hat.
`You'll want all day to-morrow, I suppose?' said Scrooge.
`If quite convenient, sir.'
`It's not convenient,' said Scrooge, `and it's not fair. If I was to stop you
half-a-crown for it, you'd think yourself ill-used, I'll be bound?'
The clerk smiled faintly.
`And yet,' said Scrooge, `you don't think me ill-used, when I pay a day's wages
for no work.'
The clerk observed that it was only once a year.
`A poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth of December!'
said Scrooge, buttoning his great-coat to the chin. `But I suppose you must
have the whole day. Be here all the earlier next morning.'
The clerk promised that he would; and Scrooge walked out with a growl. The
office was closed in a twinkling, and the clerk, with the long ends of his white
comforter dangling below his wai
