第13章猴爪（3）
&ooksomethingoutofhispodprofferedit。Mrs。ithagrimace，butherson，takingit，examicuriously。
"Andwhatistherespecialaboutit?"inquiredMr。White，ashetookitfromhissonand，havi，placeditupoable。
"Ithadaspellputonitbyanoldfakir，"saidthesergeant-major，"averyholymaoshowthatfateruledpeople'slives，andthatthosewhoididsototheirsorroellonitsothatthreeseparatemencouldeachhavethreewishesfromit。"
Hismannerressivethathishearersweresciousthattheirlightlaughterjarredsome>
"Well，whydon'tyouhavethree，sir?"saidHerbertWhitecleverly。
Thesardedhimimiddleageiswardpresumptuousyouth。"Ihave，"hesaidquietly，andhisblotchyfaed。
"Anddidyoureallyhavethethreewishesgra;askedMrs。White。
"Idid，"saidthesergeant-major，andhisglasstappedagainsthisstroh。
"Andhasanybodyelsewished?"iheoldlady。
"Thefirstmanhadhisthreewishes，yes，"ly。"Idon'tknowwhatthefirsttwowere，butthethirdwasfordeath。That'showIgotthepaw。"
Histravethatahushfelluponthegroup。
"Ifyou'vehadyourthreewishes，it'snogoodtoyounow，then，Morris，"saidtheoldmanatlast。"Whatdoyoukeepitfor?"
Thesoldiershookhishead。"Fancy，Isuppose，"hesaidslowly。
"Ifyoucouldhaveahreewishes，"saidtheoldman，eyei;wouldyouhavethem?"
"Idon'tknow，"saidtheother。"Idon'tknow。"
&hepaw，anddangliweenhisfrohumb，suddeupoe，withaslightcry，stoopeddownaoff。
"Betterletitburn，"saidthesoldiersolemnly。
"Ifyoudon'twantit，Morris，"saidtheoldman，"giveittome。"
"Iwon't，"saidhisfrie;Ithrewitonthefire。Ifyoukeepit，don'tblamemeforitthefireagain，likeasensibleman。"
&hershookhisheadandexaminedhisnewpossessio;Howdoyoudoit?"heinquired。
"Holditupinyhthandandwishaloud，"saidthesergeant-major，"butIwarnyouoftheces。"