At first the steps, though rather high, were white and neat.

But after a while they became dark and narrow, and in the end the way led over worn, uneven steps to a narrow door.

The only standing room was on the last small step.
"Is this a cage ?" said the climber to himself, breathing hard and holding fast to the railing.

The thin and creaking steps seemed to him extremely unsafe.

After he had pulled the bell-rope, the door opened, and a lady dressed in black stood before him.
"Oh, is it you, kind guardian ?" she exclaimed with astonishment.