Dickens's Christmas Books - complete online versions

The Christmas Carol, The Chimes, Cricket On the Hearth, Battle Of Life
& The Haunted Man & the Ghosts's Bargain with Illustrations.

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	118	THE CHIMES.
	certain misgiving that it might be unexpectedly seized, and a shivering propensity to draw it back again; he found that the door, which onened outwards, actuallv stood aiar !
	He thought, on the first sur­prise, of going back; or of get­ting a light, or a companion; but his courage aided him im­mediately, and he determined to ascend alone. "What have I to fear?" said Trotty. "It's a church! Besides, the ringers may be there, and have forgotten to shut the door."
	So he went in; feeling his way as he went, like a blind man; for it was very dark. And very quiet, for the Chimes were silent. The dust from the street had blown into the recess; and lying there, heaped up, made it so soft and velvet-like to the foot, that there was something startling even in that. The narrow stair was so close to the door, too,that he stumbled at the very first; and shutting the door upon himself, by striking it with his foot, and causing it to rebound back heavily, lie couldn't open it again.
	This was another reason, however, for going on. Trotty groped his way, and went on. Up, up, up, and round and round; and up up, up ; higher, higher, higher up ! It was a disagreeable staircase for that groping work ; so low and narrow, that his groping hand was always touching something ;