Chapter 2

           WhenScroogeawoke,itwassodark,thatlookingoutofbed,hecouldscarcelydistinguishthetransparentwindowfromtheopaquewallsofhischamber.Hewasendeavouringtopiercethedarknesswithhisferreteyes,whenthechimesofaneighbouringchurchstruckthefourquarters.Sohelistenedforthehour.

           Tohisgreatastonishmenttheheavybellwentonfromsixtoseven,andfromseventoeight,andregularlyuptotwelve;thenstopped.Twelve.Itwaspasttwowhenhewenttobed.Theclockwaswrong.Aniciclemusthavegotintotheworks.Twelve.

           Hetouchedthespringofhisrepeater,tocorrectthismostpreposterousclock.Itsrapidlittlepulsebeattwelve:andstopped.

           ‘Why,itisn’tpossible,’saidScrooge,‘thatIcanhavesleptthroughawholedayandfarintoanothernight.Itisn’tpossiblethatanythinghashappenedtothesun,andthisistwelveatnoon.’

           Theideabeinganalarmingone,hescrambledoutofbed,andgropedhiswaytothewindow.Hewasobligedtorubthefrostoffwiththesleeveofhisdressing-gownbeforehecouldseeanything;andcouldseeverylittlethen.Allhecouldmakeoutwas,thatitwasstillveryfoggyandextremelycold,andthattherewasnonoiseofpeoplerunningtoandfro,andmakingagreatstir,asthereunquestionablywouldhavebeenifnighthadbeatenoffbrightday,andtakenpossessionoftheworld.Thiswasagreatrelief,because"ThreedaysaftersightofthisFirstofExchangepaytoMr.