What is the purpose of this sentence? do i need her permission?

13 points : ) which two aspects of scrooge's character does this excerpt from a christmas carol by charles dickens reveal? "i wish to be left alone," said scrooge. "since you ask me what i wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. i don’t make merry myself at christmas and i can't afford to make idle people merry. i to support the establishments i have mentioned—they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there." "many can’t go there; and many would rather die." "if they would rather die," said scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. besides—excuse me—i don't know that." "but you might know it," observed the gentleman. his stingy attitude and conduct his distrust of government institutions his indifference to others' suffering his support for the community