was slowly beginning to move from side to side. Soon it was was ringing loudly, and so was every bell in the house. suddenly they all stopped ringing at the same moment nd then came a strange noise from down below. It sounded like someone pulling heavy chains across the floor Scrooge remembered hearing that ghosts in old houses sometimes pulled chains behind them. Then a door below opened with a crash, and the noise started coming up the stairs. It was coming towards his door. It's humbug sti cried Scrooge. But the colour left his face when, without stopping, it came straight through the heavy, locked door, and appeared in front of him. It was Marley's ghost! Scrooge could see right through its body. Around its middle was a long chain, which had money-boxes, keys, bank books, and heavy purses on it. The ghost's death- cold eyes stared fixedly at Scrooge. "Well!' said Scrooge, trying to pretend that nothing strange was happening. "What do you want? And who are you In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley "It's humbug, I tell you said Scrooge. "There are no ghosts!' But when he said this, the ghost gave a terrible cry, and shook its chain in a very frightening way. At once Scrooge fell on the ground in great fear, crying, 'Yes! Yes ou are real! I see that now! Why have you come? Why do ghosts come back from the dead? Tell me Jacob "The spirit o every man who does not help other people