猴爪 The Monkeys Paw（第2页）

Thesoldiershookhishead。“Fancy，Isuppose，”hesaidslowly。

“Ifyoucouldhaveahreewishes，”saidtheoldman，eyeinghimkeenly，“wouldyouhavethem?”

“Idontknow，”saidtheother。“Idontknow。”

&hepaw，anddangliweenhisfrohumb，suddeupoe，withaslightcry，stoopeddownaoff。

&itburn，”saidthesoldiersolemnly。

“Ifyoudontwantit，Morris，”saidtheoldmaome。”

“Iwont，”saidhisfriehrewitonthefre。Ifyoukeepit，dontblamemeforitthefreagain，likeasensibleman。”

&hershookhisheadandexaminedhisnewpossessionclosely。“Howdoyoudoit?”heinquired。

“Holditupinyhthandandwishaloud，”saidthesergeant-major，“butIwarnyouoftheces。”

“SouheArabianNights，”saidMrs。White，assheroseaosetthesupper。“Dontyouthinkyoumightwishforfourpairsofhandsforme?”

Herhusbaalismanfromhispodtheintolaughterasthesergeant-major，withalookofalarmohimbythearm。

“Ifyoumustwish，”hesaidgruffly，“wishforsomethingsensible。”

Mr。Whitedroppeditbatohispodplagchairs，motionedhisfrieable。Inthebusinessofsupperthetalismanartlyfotten，ahethreesatlistenihralledfashioalmentofthesoldiersadventuresinIndia。

“Ifthetaleaboutthemonkeypawishfulthanthosehehasbeentellingus，”saidHerbert，asthedoorclosedbehi，justintimeforhimtocatchthelasttraimakemuchoutofit。”

“Didyougivehimanythingforit，father?”inquiredMrs。White，regardingherhusbandclosely。

“Atrife，”saidhe，gslightly。“Hedidntwantit，butImadehimtakeit。Andhepressedmeagaintothro>

“Likely，”saidHerbert，withpretendedhorror。“Why，we‘regoingtoberidfamous，andhappy。Wishtobeaher，tobeginwith；thenyou’tbehenpecked。”

&edrouable，pursuedbythemalignedMrs。Whitearmedwithanantimacassar。

Mr。Whitetookthepawfromhispodeyeditdubiously。“Idon‘tknoishfor，andthat’safact，”hesaidslowly。“ItseemstomeIvegotallI>

“Ifyouohehouse，you‘dbequitehappy，wouldn’tyou?”saidHerbert，withhishandonhisshoulder。“Well，wishfortwohundredpoulljustdoit。”

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

“Iwishfortwohundredpounds，”saidtheoldmandistinctly。

Afnethepiahewords，iedbyashudderingtheoldman。Hiswifeandsonrantowardhim。

“Itmoved，”hecried，withaglanceofdisgustattheobjectasitlayonthefoor。“AsIwishedittwistedinmyhandslikeasnake。”

“Well，Idohemoney，”saidhisson，ashepickeditupahetable，“aInevershall。”

“Itmusthavebeenyourfancy，father，”saidhiswife，regardinghimanxiously。

Heshookhishead。“hough；theresnoharmdogavemeashockallthesame。”

&downbythefreagaiwomeheirpipes。Outside，thewindwashigherthaheoldmanstartednervouslyatthesoundupstairs。Asilenusualatleduponallthree，whichlasteduntiltheoldcouplerosetoretirefht。

&youllfiedupinabigbaginthemiddleofyourbed，”saidHerbert，ashebadethemgoodnight，“ahinghorriblesquattingupontopofthewardrobewatgyouasyoupottengains。”

&alohedarkness，gazingatthedyingfre，andseei。Thelastfacewassohorribleandsosimiaitigotsovividthat，withalittleuneasylaugh，hefeltoableflassgalittlewatertothrowoverit。Hishahemonkeyspaw，andwithalittleshiverhewipedhishandonhisdwentuptobed。

II

IhewintrysumasitstreamedoverthebreakfasttableHerbertlaughedathisfears。Thererosaietheroomwhichithadlathepreviousnight，ay，shrivelledlittlepaitthesideboardwithaesswhiedbeliefinitsvirtues。

“Isupposealloldsoldiersarethesame，”saidMrsWhite。“Theideaofourlisteningtosuse！Howcouldwishesbegrahesedays?Andiftheycould，howcouldtwohundredpoundshurtyou，father?”

“Mightdropohesky，”saidthefrivolousHerbert。

“Morrissaidthethingshappeurally，”saidhisfather，“thatyoumightifyousowishedattributeittoce。”

&breakintothemoneybeforeIeback，”saidHerbert，asherosefromthetable。“I‘mafraidit’llturnyouintoamean，avarian，andweshallhavetodisownyou。”

Hismhed，andfollowinghimtothedoor，watchedhimdownthertothebreakfasttable，wasveryhappyattheexpenseofherhusbay。Allofwhiotpreventherfrtothedooratthepostman’sknoorpreventherfrsomewhatshortlyteant-majorsofbibuloushabitswhehatthephtatailorsbill。

&willhavesomemoreofhisfunnyremarks，Iexpehee，”shesaid，astheysatatdinner。

“Idaresay，”saidMr。White，phimselfoutsomebeer；“butforallthat，thethingmovedinmyhand；thatIlls>

“Youthoughtitdid，”saidtheoldladysoothingly。