As Smike and Nicholas tramp their long journey to Portsmouth
they hear the sheep-bells tinkling on the downs. To Tom Pinch
journeying Londonwards 'the brass work on the harness was a
complete orchestra of little bells.'

What a terror the bells are to Jonas Chuzzlewit just before
he starts on his evil journey! He hears

the ringers practising in a neighbouring church, and
the clashing of their bells was almost maddening. Curse
the clamouring bells! they seemed to know that he
was listening at the door, and to proclaim it in a
crowd of voices to all the town! Would they never be
still? They ceased at last, and then the silence was
so new and terrible that it seemed the prelude to some
dreadful noise.

The boom of the bell is associated with many of the villains
of the novels. Fagin hears it when under sentence of death.
Blackpool and Carker hear the accusing bells when in the midst
of planning their evil deeds.

We can read the characters of some by the way they ring a
bell. The important little Mr. Bailey, when he goes to see his
friend Poll Sweedlepipe (_M.C._) 'came in at the door with
a lunge, to get as much sound out of the bell as possible,'
while Bob Sawyer gives a pull as if he would bring it up by
the roots. Mr. Clennam pulls the rope with a hasty jerk,
and Mr. Watkins Tottle with a faltering jerk, while Tom Pinch
gives a gentle pull. And how angry Mr. Mantalini is with