第14章猴爪（4）
"Isupposealloldsoldiersarethesame，"saidMrsWhite。"Theideaofourlisteningtosuse!Howcouldwishesbegrahesedays?Andiftheycould，howcouldtwohundredpoundshurtyou，father?"
"Mightdropohesky，"saidthefrivolousHerbert。
"Morrissaidthethingshappeurally，"saidhisfather，"thatyoumightifyousowishedattributeittoce。"
"Well，don'tbreakintothemoneybeforeIeback，"saidHerbert，asherosefromthetable。"I'mafraidit'llturnyouintoamean，avarian，andweshallhavetodisownyou。"
Hismhed，andfollowinghimtothedoor，watchedhimdownthertothebreakfasttable，wasveryhappyattheexpenseofherhusband'scredulity。Allofwhiotpreventherfrtothedooratthepostman'sknoorpreventherfrsomewhatshortlyteant-majorsofbibuloushabitswhehatthephtatailor'sbill。
"Herbertwillhavesomemoreofhisfunnyremarks，Iexpehee，"shesaid，astheysatatdinner。
"Idaresay，"saidMr。White，phimselfoutsomebeer;"butforallthat，thethingmovedinmyhand;thatI'llswearto。"
"Youthoughtitdid，"saidtheoldladysoothingly。
"Isayitdid，"repliedtheother。"Therewasnothoughtaboutit;Ihadjust—What'sthematter?"
Hisly。Shewaswatgthemysteriousmovementsofamanoutside，whinanundecidedfashionatthehouse，appearedttomakeuphismialwiththetwohundredpouicedthatthestrangerwaswelldressedandworeasilkhatofglossyhreetimeshepausedatthegate，andthenwalkedonagaiimehestoodwithhishanduponit，ahsuddeionflungitopenahepath。Mrs。Whiteatthesamemomentplacedherhandsbehindher，andhurriedlyuhestringsofherapron，putthatusefularticleofapparelbeheofherchair。
&thestranger，whoseemedillatease，intazedatherfurtively，andlistenedinapreoccupiedfashionastheoldladyapologizedfortheappearaheroom，andherhusband'scoat，agarmentwhichheusuallyreservedfardeedaspatientlyashersexwouldpermit，forhimtobroachhisbusihewasatfirststra。
"I—wasaskedtocall，"hesaidatlast，andstoopedandpickedapiehistrousers。"IawandMeggins。"
Theoldladystarted。"Isanythier?"sheaskedbreathlessly。"HasanythioHerbert?Whatisit?Whatisit?"
Herhusbandihere，there，mother，"hesaidhastily。"Sitdown，anddon'tjumptos。You'venhtbadnews，I'msure，sir。"aherwistfully。
"I'msorry…"begaor。
"Ishehurt?"demaher。
&orbowedi;Badlyhurt，"hesaidquietly，"butheisnotinanypain。"
"Oh，thankGod!"saidtheoldingherhands。"ThankGodforthat!Thank…"
Shebrokeoffsuddeermeaningoftheassuraneduponheraheawfulationofherfearsiher'savertedface。Shecaughtherbreath，andturningtoherslower-wittedhusband，laidhertremblingoldhanduponhis。Therewasalongsilence。
"Hewasthemaery，"saidthevisitth，inalowvoice。
"themaery，"repeatedMr。White，inadazedfashio;
åblanklyoutatthewindow，andtakinghiswife'shaweenhisowashehadbeenwonttodointheirdaysyyearsbefore。
"Hewastheoous，"hesaid，turhevisitor。"Itishard。"
&hercoughed，andrising，walkedslowlytothewindow。"Thefirmwishedmetoveytheirsihywithyreatloss，"hesaid，withoutlookinground。"IbegthatyouwilluandIamonlytheirservantandmerelyobeyi;
Therely;theoldwoman'sfacewaswhite，hereyesstarihihehusband'sfacewasalooksuchashisfriemighthavetohisfirsta。
"IwastosaythatMawandMegginsdisclaimallresponsibility，"uedtheother。"Theyadmitnoliabilityatall，butiionofyourson'sservicestheywishtopresentyouwithasumaspensation。"
Mr。Whitedroppedhiswife'shand，andrisingtohisfeet，gazedwithalookofhorrorathisvisitor。Hisdrylipsshapedthewords，"Howmuch?"
"Twohundredpounds，">
Unsciousofhiswife'sshriek，theoldmaly，putouthishalessman，anddropped，asehefloor。
III
Inthehugeery，sometwomilesdistant，theoldpeopleburiedtheirdead，aoahousesteepedinshadowawasalloversoquicklythatatfirsttheycouldhardlyrealizeit，aateofexpeasthoughofsomethiohappehingelsewhichwastolightenthisload，tooheavyforoldheartstobear。
Butthedayspassed，aionation—thehnationoftheold，sometimesmiscalled，apathy。Sometimestheyhardlyexgedaword，forhingtotalkabout，andtheirdayswerelongtoweariness。
Itwasaboutaweekafterthatthattheoldman，wakihenight，stretchedouthishandandfoundhimselfaloheroomwasihesoundofsubduedweepihewindow。Heraisedhimselfinbedandlistened。
"eback，"hesaidte;Youwillbecold。"
"Itisyson，"saidtheoldtafresh。