It was a hot night and I could not sleep, I got up and looked out of the window. The sky was very clear with a half-moon in the west and many twinkling stars.
While I was absorbed in the scene, I heard a moaning sound from the next flat. I listened for a while. I thought at first that somebody there was snoring and perhaps raising this cry in his dream. But the moaning sound continued. it was followed by other sounds. They were so confusing that I could not understand what it was all about. I felt the sound came from two persons quarreling. I wondered what could have been the matter at that hour of night.
The quarrelling noise increased. Now and then, I could identify a voice that appeared to be begging. Very soon, I heard the noise of blows and a shrill cry of woman. Still I hesitated to move out, and go and see what the matter was. True, the neighbor was an acquaintance of mine, but the hour of the night and the nature of the voice resisted me from going out to interfere.
While was thinking about it, I heard a sudden crash, as though something heavy had fallen. This was followed by a fearful cry and silence followed. I feared something horrible had happened. So I ran out and went to the neighbor’s door and knocked at it. It was opened by my neighbor, who appeared in dismay and bewilderment. After some excuses, I enquired what the matter was.
He took me in and showed me a scene. There lay his wife curled on her bed. One or two chairs had been turned upside down. This was in disarray. The neighbour showed me a chair to sit. Then, he told me that his wife had been a hysterical person and would now and then create scenes in the night. The struggle started when he tried to quieted her but she would not. Then she pushed the chair vehemently which was the cause for the crash. And after a cry, she fell into a swoon. It appeared, he took it easy because, it was a common occurrence. While I sought his excuse for disturbing him, he begged my pardon for having disturbed my peace at night. I bade him good-night and returned to my room.
Vocabulary
disarray mess
bade wished
