The Cratchits Toast Scrooge

After the dinner, Bob Cratchit proposes a toast to Mr. Scrooge, calling him 'the Founder of the Feast.' Mrs. Cratchit, however, is reluctant, calling Scrooge an odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling man. She eventually drinks the toast for her husband's sake and the Day's, but not for Scrooge's. The children drink after her, but it is the first of their proceedings which has no heartiness in it. Tiny Tim drinks it last of all, but he doesn't care twopence for it. The mention of Scrooge's name casts a dark shadow on the party, which is not dispelled for full five minutes.