第13章 猴爪3（第2页）

"SouheArabianNights，"saidMrs。White，assheroseaosetthesupper。"Don'tyouthinkyoumightwishforfourpairsofha;

Herhusbaalismanfromhispodtheintolaughterasthesergeant-major，withalookofalarmohimbythearm。

"Ifyoumustwish，"hesaidgruffly，"wishforsomethingse;

Mr。Whitedroppeditbatohispodplagchairs，motionedhisfrieable。Inthebusinessofsupperthetalismanartlyfotten，ahethreesatlistenihralledfashioalmentofthesoldier'sadventuresinIndia。

"Ifthetaleaboutthemonkeypawishfulthanthosehehasbeentellingus，"saidHerbert，asthedoorclosedbehi，justintimeforhimtocatchthelasttrain，"weshan'tmakemuchoutofit。"

"Didyougivehimanythingforit，father?"inquiredMrs。White，regardingherhusbandclosely。

"Atrifle，"saidhe，gslightly。"Hedidn'twantit，butImadehimtakeit。Andhepressedmeagaintothrowitaway。"

"Likely，"saidHerbert，withpretendedhorror。"Why，we&#toberidfamous，andhappy。Wishtobeaher，tobeginwith;thenyou'tbehe;

&edrouable，pursuedbythemalignedMrs。Whitearmedwithanantimacassar。

Mr。Whitetookthepawfromhispodeyeditdubiously。"Idon'tknoishfor，andthat'safact，"hesaidslowly。"ItseemstomeI'vegotallIwant。"

"Ifyouohehouse，you'dbequitehappy，wouldn'tyou?"saidHerbert，withhishandonhisshoulder。"Well，wishfortwohundredpou'lljustdoit。"

Hisfather，smilingshamefacedlyathisowy，heldupthetalisman，ashisson，withasolemmarredbyawinkathismother，satdoianoandstruckafewimpressivechords。

"Iwishfortwohundredpounds，"saidtheoldmandistinctly。

Afinethepiahewords，iedbyashudderingtheoldman。Hiswifeandsonrantowardhim。

"Itmoved，"hecried，withaglanceofdisgustattheobjectasitlayonthefloor。"AsIwishedittwistedinmyhandslikeas;

"Well，Idon'tseethemo;saidhisson，ashepickeditupahetable，"aInevershall。"

"Itmusthavebeenyourfa;saidhiswife，regardinghimanxiously。

Heshookhishead。"hough;there'snoharmdogavemeashockallthesame。"

&downbythefireagaiwomeheirpipes。Outside，thewindwashigherthaheoldmanstartednervouslyatthesoundupstairs。Asilenusualatleduponallthree，whichlasteduntiltheoldcouplerosetoretirefht。

"Iexpectyou'llfiiedupinabigbaginthemiddleofyourbed，"saidHerbert，ashebadethemgoodnight，"ahinghorriblesquattingupontopofthewardrobewatgyouasyoupottengains。"

&alohedarkness，gazingatthedyingfire，andseei。Thelastfacewassohorribleandsosimiaitisovividthat，withalittleuneasylaugh，hefeltoableflassgalittlewatertothrowoverit。Hishahemonkey'spaw，andwithalittleshiverhewipedhishandonhisdwentuptobed。

II

IhewintrysumasitstreamedoverthebreakfasttableHerbertlaughedathisfears。Thererosaietheroomwhichithadlathepreviousnight，ay，shrivelledlittlepaitthesideboardwithaesswhiedbeliefinitsvirtues。