"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。