I hopped out of bed wide awake, and stood watching the fat figure of O’Twist, who was picking up the chair and table he had knocked over in pushing open the door. “Be off!” I shouted, darting at him. He skipped aside, his braces trailing in his wake, but instead of leaving the room, seized a chair, which he brandished with both hands, crying, “You’d betther not touch me! I’m a moorderous man whin my blood is up! you’d betther not touch me!” “I’ll kill you,” I gasped, “if you don’t leave this room at once! How _dare_ you intrude upon me a second time?” “Let me shut the window, sor--let me pull the curtains tew--you’ll be much aisier in you’re moind wid de moon hid--indade you will, sor,” he answered, jamming himself into a corner and holding the chair over his head. I looked at him aghast. It was quite clear to me that he was raving mad. The moonlight had penetrated his brain, and he was clamouring to have it hid! Wasn’t it well known, that all mad people raged when the moon was full? I mustn’t be violent. No, no. He must be humoured, or he might dash my brains out. “Look here,” said I, “if I close the window and draw the curtains, will you promise not to break in upon me again?” “If you’ll promise to kape the moon hid.” “Anything to get rid of you,” I said; “but I pledge you my word of honour, if you break your promise I’ll throw you out of the window. Hear that! and to-morrow----” But I checked myself. I had threatened enough. I might drive him frantic. There was no key to the door, and nothing could keep him from crawling in and cutting my throat, should I again fall asleep, but the bed or the chest of drawers against the door, neither of which I was able to stir. He put the chair down cautiously, edged towards the window, watching me intently, whilst I backed from him as he approached, watching _him_ intently, pulled down the sash, drew the curtains, and slided sideways towards the door. “You’ll kape your word, sor?” he inquired. “Yes, and you had better keep yours, or look out!” He closed the door, and I was again left alone. A long time passed before I fell asleep. I never expected for a moment that this madman would not once more pop his vile head in to see if the moon was hid, and lay for a great while in a state of passionate anxiety waiting for him to appear, that I might spring upon and beat him. Gradually the moonshine passed off the window, and the room grew dark. Then another kind of light began to creep upon the blind; it brightened and broadened; the sparrows twittered; and it was clear daylight when I dropped off into a very uneasy slumber.