FAMILY CONNECTION
Belle is described as having a family, including a husband and daughter, and is referenced as Scrooge's former love. The text suggests that Belle's life took a different path from Scrooge's, highlighting a missed family connection for Scrooge.
BELLE
'Belle,' said the husband, turning to his wife with a smile, 'I saw an old friend of yours this afternoon.' ... 'Mr. Scrooge it was. I passed his office window; and as it was not shut up, and he had a candle inside, I could scarcely help seeing him. His partner lies upon the point of death, I hear; and there he sat alone. Quite alone in the world, I do believe.' ... And now Scrooge looked on more attentively than ever, when the master of the house, having his daughter leaning fondly on him, sat down with her and her mother at his own fireside; and when he thought that such another creature, quite as graceful and as full of promise, might have called him father, and been a spring-time in the haggard winter of his life, his sight grew very dim indeed.