Scrooge went to bed again , and thought , and thought , and thought it over and over , and could make nothing of it . The more he thought , the more perplexed he was ; and , the more he endeavoured not to think , the more he thought . Marley 's Ghost bothered him exceedingly . Every time he resolved within himself , after mature inquiry , that it was all a dream , his mind flew back again , like a strong spring released , to its first position , and presented the same problem to be worked all through , `` Was it a dream or not ? '' Scrooge lay in this state until the chime had gone three quarters more , when he remembered , on a sudden , that the Ghost had warned him of a visitation when the bell tolled one . He resolved to lie awake until the hour was passed ; and , considering that he could no more go to sleep than go to Heaven , this was , perhaps , the wisest resolution in his power . The quarter was so long , that he was more than once convinced he must have sunk into a doze unconsciously , and missed the clock . At length it broke upon his listening ear . `` Ding , dong ! '' `` A quarter past , '' said Scrooge , counting . `` Ding , dong ! '' `` Half past , '' said Scrooge . `` Ding , dong ! '' `` A quarter to it , '' said Scrooge . `` Ding , dong ! '' `` The hour itself , '' said Scrooge triumphantly , `` and nothing else ! '' He spoke before the hour bell sounded , which it now did with a deep , dull , hollow , melancholy ONE . Light flashed up in the room upon the instant , and the curtains of his bed were drawn . The curtains of his bed were drawn aside , I tell you , by a hand . Not the curtains at his feet , nor the curtains at his back , but those to which his face was addressed .
The curtains XXXXX his bed were drawn aside ; and Scrooge , starting up into a half-recumbent attitude , found himself face to face with the unearthly visitor who drew them : as close to it as I am now to you , and I am standing in the spirit at your elbow .
At before like of that through to until with within