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people who were bad at heart； born bad； who had no business on the
earth； could do such deeds。 It's too true； all I've heard to…day；
too just； too full of proof。 We're Bad！'
The Chimes took up the words so suddenly … burst out so loud； and
clear； and sonorous … that the Bells seemed to strike him in his
chair。
And what was that； they said？
'Toby Veck； Toby Veck； waiting for you Toby！ Toby Veck； Toby Veck；
waiting for you Toby！ Come and see us； come and see us； Drag him
to us； drag him to us； Haunt and hunt him； haunt and hunt him；
Break his slumbers； break his slumbers！ Toby Veck Toby Veck； door
open wide Toby； Toby Veck Toby Veck； door open wide Toby … ' then
fiercely back to their impetuous strain again； and ringing in the
very bricks and plaster on the walls。
Toby listened。 Fancy； fancy！ His remorse for having run away from
them that afternoon！ No； no。 Nothing of the kind。 Again； again；
and yet a dozen times again。 'Haunt and hunt him； haunt and hunt
him； Drag him to us； drag him to us！' Deafening the whole town！
'Meg；' said Trotty softly： tapping at her door。 'Do you hear
anything？'
'I hear the Bells； father。 Surely they're very loud to…night。'
'Is she asleep？' said Toby； making an excuse for peeping in。
'So peacefully and happily！ I can't leave her yet though； father。
Look how she holds my hand！'
'Meg；' whispered Trotty。 'Listen to the Bells！'
She listened； with her face towards him all the time。 But it
underwent no change。 She didn't understand them。
Trotty withdrew； resumed his seat by the fire； and once more
listened by himself。 He remained here a little time。
It was impossible to bear it； their energy was dreadful。
'If the tower…door is really open；' said Toby； hastily laying aside
his apron； but never thinking of his hat； 'what's to hinder me from
going up into the steeple and satisfying myself？ If it's shut； I
don't want any other satisfaction。 That's enough。'
He was pretty certain as he slipped out quietly into the street
that he should find it shut and locked； for he knew the door well；
and had so rarely seen it open； that he couldn't reckon above three
times in all。 It was a low arched portal； outside the church； in a
dark nook behind a column； and had such great iron hinges； and such
a monstrous lock； that there was more hinge and lock than door。
But what was his astonishment when； coming bare…headed to the
church； and putting his hand into this dark nook； with a certain
misgiving that it might be unexpectedly seized； and a shivering
propensity to draw it back again； he found that the door； which
opened outwards； actually stood ajar！
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； he 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； and it
often felt so like a man or ghostly figure standing up erect and
making room for him to pass without discovery； that he would rub
the smooth wall upward searching for its face； and downward
searching for its feet； while a chill tingling crept all over him。
Twice or thrice； a door or niche broke the monotonous surface； and
then it seemed a gap as wide as the whole church； and he felt on
the brink of an abyss； and going to tumble headlong down； until he
found the wall again。
Still up； up； up； and round and round； and up； up； up； higher；
higher； higher up！
At length； the dull and stifling atmosphere began to freshen：
presently to feel quite windy： presently it blew so strong； that
he could hardly keep his legs。 But； he got to an arched window in
the tower； breast high； and holding tight； looked down upon the
house…tops； on the smoking chimneys； on the blurr and blotch of
lights （towards the place where Meg was wondering where he was and
calling to him perhaps）； all kneaded up together in a leaven of
mist and darkness。
This was the belfry； where the ringers came。 He had caught hold of
one of the frayed ropes which hung down through apertures in the
oaken roof。 At first he started； thinking it was hair； then
trembled at the very thought of waking the deep Bell。 The Bells
themselves were higher。 Higher； Trotty； in his fascination； or in
working out the spell upon him； groped his way。 By ladders now；
and toilsomely； for it was steep； and not too certain holding for
the feet。
Up； up； up； and climb and clamber； up； up； up； higher； higher；
higher up！
Until； ascending through the floor； and pausing with his head just
raised above its beams； he came among the Bells。 It was barely
possible to make out their great shapes in the gloom； but there
they were。 Shadowy； and dark； and dumb。
A heavy sense of dread and loneliness fell instantly upon him； as
he climbed into this airy nest of stone and metal。 His head went
round and round。 He listened； and then raised a wild 'Holloa！'
Holloa！ was mournfully protracted by the echoes。
Giddy； confused； and out of breath； and frightened； Toby looked
about him vacantly； and sunk down in a swoon。
CHAPTER III … Third Quarter。
BLACK are the brooding clouds and troubled the deep waters； when
the Sea of Thought； first heaving from a calm； gives up its Dead。
Monsters uncouth and wild； arise in premature； imperfect
resurrection； the several parts and shapes of different things are
joined and mixed by chance； and when； and how； and by what
wonderful degrees； each separates from each； and every sense and
object of the mind resumes its usual form and lives again； no man …
though every man is every day the casket of this type of the Great
Mystery … can tell。
So； when and how the darkness of the night…black steeple changed to
shining light； when and how the solitary tower was peopled with a
myriad figures； when and how the whispered 'Haunt and hunt him；'
breathing monotonously through his sleep or swoon； became a voice
exclaiming in the waking ears of Trotty； 'Break his slumbers；' when
and how he ceased to have a sluggish and confused idea that such
things were； companioning a host of others that were not； there are
no dates or means to tell。 But； awake and standing on his feet
up