第34章猴爪（2）
"Ifyoucouldhaveahreewishes，"saidtheoldman，eyeinghimkeenly，"wouldyouhavethem?"
"Idon'tknow，"saidtheother。"Idon'tknow。"
&hepaw，anddangliweenhisfrohumb，suddeupoe，withaslightcry，stoopeddownaoff。
"Betterletitburn，"saidthesoldiersolemnly。
"Ifyoudon'twantit，Morris，"saidtheoldman，"giveittome。"
"Iwon't，"saidhisfrienddoggedly。"Ithrewitonthefire。Ifyoukeepit，don'tblamemeforitthefireagain，likeasensibleman。"
&hershookhisheadandexaminedhisnewpossessio;Howdoyoudoit?"heinquired。
"Holditupinyhthandandwishaloud，"saidthesergeant-major，"butIwarnyouoftheces。"
"SouheArabianNights，"saidMrsWhite，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，ashebadethemgood-night，"ahinghorriblesquattingupontopofthewardrobewatgyouasyoupottengains。"
&alohedarkness，gazingatthedyingfire，andseei。Thelastfacewassohorribleandsosimiaitigotsovividthat，withalittleuneasylaugh，hefeltoableflassgalittlewatertothrowoverit。Hishahemonkey'spaw，andwithalittleshiverhewipedhishandonhisdwentuptobed。
II
IhewintrysumasitstreamedoverthebreakfasttableHerbertlaughedathisfears。Thererosaietheroomwhichithadlathepreviousnight，ay，shrivelledlittlepaitthesideboardwithaesswhiedbeliefinitsvirtues。
"Isupposealloldsoldiersarethesame，"saidMrsWhite。"Theideaofourlisteningtosuse!Howcouldwishesbegrahesedays?Andiftheycould，howcouldtwohundredpoundshurtyou，father?"
"Mightdropohesky，"saidthefrivolousHerbert。
"Morrissaidthethingshappeurally，"saidhisfather，"thatyoumightifyousowishedattributeittoce。"