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dumb…show； unintelligible narratives of how and when and where he had
found their visitors； to Meg； and they were happy。 Very happy。
'Although；' thought Trotty； sorrowfully； as he watched Meg's face； 'that
match is broken off； I see！'
'Now； I'll tell you what；' said Trotty after tea。 'The little one； she
sleeps with Meg； I know。'
'With good Meg！' cried the child； caressing her。 'With Meg。'
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'That's right；' said Trotty。 'And I shouldn't wonder if she kiss Meg's
father； won't she？ I'M Meg's father。'
Mightily delighted Trotty was； when the child went timidly towards
him； and having kissed him； fell back upon Meg again。
'She's as sensible as Solomon；' said Trotty。 'Here we come and here
we … no； we don't … I don't mean that … I … what was I saying； Meg； my
precious？'
Meg looked towards their guest； who leaned upon her chair； and with
his face turned from her； fondled the child's head； half hidden in her lap。
'To be sure；' said Toby。 'To be sure！ I don't know what I'm rambling
on about； to…night。 My wits are wool…gathering； I think。 Will Fern； you
come along with me。 You're tired to death； and broken down for want of
rest。 You come along with me。' The man still played with the child's
curls； still leaned upon Meg's chair； still turned away his face。 He didn't
speak； but in his rough coarse fingers； clenching and expanding in the fair
hair of the child； there was an eloquence that said enough。
'Yes； yes；' said Trotty； answering unconsciously what he saw expressed
in his daughter's face。 'Take her with you； Meg。 Get her to bed。 There！
Now； Will； I'll show you where you lie。 It's not much of a place： only a
loft； but； having a loft； I always say； is one of the great conveniences of
living in a mews； and till this coach…house and stable gets a better let； we
live here cheap。 There's plenty of sweet hay up there； belonging to a
neighbour； and it's as clean as hands； and Meg； can make it。 Cheer up！
Don't give way。 A new heart for a New Year； always！'
The hand released from the child's hair； had fallen； trembling； into
Trotty's hand。 So Trotty； talking without intermission； led him out as
tenderly and easily as if he had been a child himself。 Returning before
Meg； he listened for an instant at the door of her little chamber； an
adjoining room。 The child was murmuring a simple Prayer before lying
down to sleep； and when she had remembered Meg's name； 'Dearly；
Dearly' … so her words ran … Trotty heard her stop and ask for his。
It was some short time before the foolish little old fellow could
compose himself to mend the fire； and draw his chair to the warm hearth。
But； when he had done so； and had trimmed the light； he took his
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The Chimes
newspaper from his pocket； and began to read。 Carelessly at first； and
skimming up and down the columns； but with an earnest and a sad
attention； very soon。
For this same dreaded paper re…directed Trotty's thoughts into the
channel they had taken all that day； and which the day's events had so
marked out and shaped。 His interest in the two wanderers had set him on
another course of thinking； and a happier one； for the time； but being alone
again； and reading of the crimes and violences of the people； he relapsed
into his former train。
In this mood； he came to an account （and it was not the first he had
ever read） of a woman who had laid her desperate hands not only on her
own life but on that of her young child。 A crime so terrible； and so
revolting to his soul； dilated with the love of Meg； that he let the journal
drop； and fell back in his chair； appalled！
'Unnatural and cruel！' Toby cried。 'Unnatural and cruel！ None but
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？'
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'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
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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 o