"Are you the Spirit, sir, whose coming was foretold to
me?" asked Scrooge.

"Of course I am."

The voice was soft and gentle. Singularly low, as if
instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.

"Who, and what are you?" Scrooge demanded.

"I am the Ghost of Trottimus Past."

"Long Past?" inquired Scrooge: observant of its walrus-like stature.

"No. Your past."

- Altered version of A Christmas Carol
Originally by Charles Dickens