第14章 猴爪〔4〕 (第1/2页)
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"Isuosealloldsoldiersarethesame,
"saidMrsWhite.
"Theideaofourlisteningtosuchnonsense!Howcouldwishesbegrantedinthesedays?Andiftheycould,howcouldtwohundredoundshurtyou,father?
"
"Mightdroonhisheadfromthesky,
"saidthefrivolousHerbert.
"Morrissaidthethingshaenedsonaturally,
"saidhisfather,
"thatyoumightifyousowishedattributeittocoincidence.
"
"Well,don'tbreakintothemoneybeforeIcomeback,
"saidHerbert,asherosefromthetable.
"I'mafraidit'llturnyouintoamean,avariciousman,andweshallhavetodisownyou.
"
Hismotherlaughed,andfollowinghimtothedoor,watchedhimdowntheroad,andreturningtothebreakfasttable,wasveryhayattheexenseofherhusband'scredulity.Allofwhichdidnotreventherfromscurryingtothedoorattheostman'sknock,norreventherfromreferringsomewhatshortlytoretiredsergeant-majorsofbibuloushabitswhenshefoundthattheostbroughtatailor'sbill.
"Herbertwillhavesomemoreofhisfunnyremarks,Iexect,whenhecomeshome,
"shesaid,astheysatatdinner.
"Idaresay,
"saidMr.White,ouringhimselfoutsomebeer;
"butforallthat,thethingmovedinmyhand;thatI'llswearto.
"
"Youthoughtitdid,
"saidtheoldladysoothingly.
"Isayitdid,
"reliedtheother.
"Therewasnothoughtaboutit;Ihadjust—What'sthematter?
"
Hiswifemadenorely.Shewaswatchingthemysteriousmovementsofamanoutside,who,eeringinanundecidedfashionatthehouse,aearedtobetryingtomakeuhismindtoenter.Inmentalconnectionwiththetwohundredounds,shenoticedthatthestrangerwaswelldressedandworeasilkhatofglossynewness.Threetimesheausedatthegate,andthenwalkedonagain.Thefourthtimehestoodwithhishanduonit,andthenwithsuddenresolutionflungitoenandwalkedutheath.Mrs.Whiteatthesamemomentlacedherhandsbehindher,andhurriedlyunfasteningthestringsofheraron,utthatusefularticleofaarelbeneaththecushionofherchair.
Shebroughtthestranger,whoseemedillatease,intotheroom.Hegazedatherfurtively,andlistenedinareoccuiedfashionastheoldladyaologizedfortheaearanceoftheroom,andherhusband'scoat,agarmentwhichheusuallyreservedforthegarden.Shethenwaitedasatientlyashersexwouldermit,forhimtobroachhisbusiness,buthewasatfirststrangelysilent.
"I—wasaskedtocall,
"hesaidatlast,andstooedandickedaieceofcottonfromhistrousers.
"IcomefromMawandMeggins.
"
Theoldladystarted.
"Isanythingthematter?
"sheaskedbreathlessly.
"HasanythinghaenedtoHerbert?Whatisit?Whatisit?
"
Herhusbandinterosed.
"There,there,mother,
"hesaidhastily.
"Sitdown,anddon'tjumtoconclusions.You'venotbroughtbadnews,I'msure,sir.
"andheeyedtheotherwistfully.
"I'msorry…
"beganthevisitor.
"Ishehurt?
"demandedthemother.
