第33章猴爪（1）
TheMonkey'sPaw
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。Jacobs，1863—1943），英国小说家，生于伦敦，毕业于伯克拜克大学。他是一个多产的小说家，写过大量的讽刺小说和恐怖小说。其中最著名的恐怖小说是《猴爪》（1901），曾被多次改编为电影和剧本，斯蒂芬·金的小说《宠物公墓》深受其影响。
Without，thenightwasdwet，butinthesmallparlourofLaburnamVillatheblindsweredrawnandthefireburly。Fatherachess，theformer，whopossessedideasaboutthegameinvolvingradiges，puttinghiskingintosuchsharpandunnecessaryperilsthatitevefromthewhite-hairedoldladyknittingplacidlybythefire。
"Harkatthewind，"saidMr。White，who，havialmistakeafteritwastoolate，wasamiablydesirhissit。
"I'mlistening，"saidthelatter，grimlysurveyingtheboardashestretchedouthishand。"Check。"
"Ishouldhardlythinkthathe'deto-night，"saidhisfather，withhishaheboard。
"Mate，"repliedtheson。
"That'stheworstoflivingsofarout，"baithsuddenandunlooked-forviole;ofallthebeastly，slushy，out-of-the-lacestolivein，thisistheworst。Pathway'sabog，andtheroad'satorrent。Idon'tknolearethinkingabout。Isupposebelytwohousesontheroadarelet，theythinkitdoesn'tmatter。"
"Nevermi;saidhiswifesoothingly；"perhapsyou'llwio;
Mr。Whitelookedupsharply，justierowiweenmotherandson。Thewordsdiedawayonhislips，andhehidaguiltygrininhisthingreybeard。
"Thereheis，"saidHerbertWhite，asthegatebaoloudlyastepscametowardthedoor。
Theoldmahhospitablehaste，ahedoor，washeardgwiththenewarrival。Thenewarrivalalsodoledwithhimself，sothatMrs。Whitesaid，"Tut，tut！"alyasherhusbaheroom，followedbyatallburlyman，beadyofeyeandrubidofvisage。
&queant-MajorMorris，"hesaid，introdughim。
&-majorshookhands，andtakingtheprofferedseatbythefire，wattentedlywhilehishostgotoutwhiskyaoodasmallcopperkettleonthefire。
Atthethirdglasshiseyesghter，aalk，thelittlefamilycircleregardierestthisvisitorfromdistantparts，ashesquaredhisbroadshouldersinthedspesddoughtydeeds；oflaguesandstrangepeoples。
"Twe，"saidMr。White，noddingathiswifeandson。"ayheofayouthinthewarehouse。Nowlookathim。"
"Hedon'tlooktohavetakenmuchharm，"saidMrs。White，politely。
"I'dliketogotoI;saidtheoldman，"justtolookroundabit，youknow。"