# ■ Chapter 4

The next morning the winter sun came through the window and the house felt nice and warm again． Mr White felt better and he smiled at his wife and son． The family sat down to have breakfast and they began to talk about the day．The monkey's paw was on a little table near the window， but nobody looked at it and nobody thought about it．

I'm going to the shops this morning，' Mrs White said． 'I want to get something nice for dinner．Are you going to come with me？' she asked her husband．

No， I'm going to have a quiet morning． I'm going to read，' her husband answered．

Well， I'm not going to go out this evening，'Herbert said，'so we can go to bed early tonight．We were very late last night．'

And we aren't going to have stories about monkey's paws！'Mrs White said． She was angry．'Why did we listen to your friend？' she asked her husband．'A monkey's paw can't give you things！'she stopped but the two men did not answer her．'Thirty thousand pounds！' she said quietly．'We needed that money．'

Just then Herbert looked at the clock and stood up．'I'm going to work，' he said．'Perhaps the postman has got the money for you in a letter．Remember， I want some of it too！'Herbert laughed and his mother laughed too．

Don't laugh， son，' Mr White said．'Tom Morris is an old friend and he thinks the story is true． Perhaps it is．'

Well，leave some of the money for me， 'Herbert laughed again．

His mother laughed too and she went to the door with him．

Goodbye， Mother，' Herbert said happily．'Get some thing nice for dinner this evening at the shops．I'm always hungry after a day at work．'

I know you are！' Mrs White answered．

Herbert left the house and walked quickly down the road． His mother stood at the door for some time and watched him． The winter sun was warm， but suddenly she felt very cold．

■ 4

第二天早晨，冬日的陽光穿過窗戶，房子裡重新變得溫暖。懷特先生感覺很好，他對著妻子和兒子微笑。一家子坐下來共進早餐，他們討論著白天要乾的事。猴爪放在窗子邊的小桌上，但沒有人去看它，也沒有人想到它。

“上午我想去商店，”懷特太太說，“我想買一點好東西做晚餐，你願意和我一塊去嗎？”她問丈夫。

“不，我想享受一個安靜的上午。我想看書，”她丈夫回答說。

“今天晚上我不想出門，”赫伯特說，“我們就能早一點上床睡覺，昨晚我們睡得太遲了。”

“我們再也不相信有關猴爪的故事！”懷特太太說。她發火了。“為什麼我們要相信你的朋友？”她問丈夫，“一個猴爪不會給你任何東西的！”她停了下來，但兩個男人並沒有回答她。“30 000英磅！”她平靜地說，“我們需要那些錢。”

就在這時，赫伯特看看時間並站了起來。“我要去工作了，”他說，“也許郵差在一封信裡把錢寄給你，記住，我也想要一些！”赫伯特笑了，她母親也笑了。

“別笑了，孩子，”懷特先生說，“湯姆·莫里斯是我的老朋友了，既然他認為這個故事是真實的，也許就是真的。”

“好吧，給我也留下一些錢，”赫伯特又笑了起來。

他母親也笑了起來並起身送兒子出門。

“再見，媽媽。”赫伯特高興地說，“到商店買點好吃的晚餐，工作一天後我總覺得餓。”

“我知道！”懷特太太答道。

赫伯特離開了家，沿著馬路快步地走。他母親站在門邊目送他遠去。冬日的陽光很曖和，但懷特太太卻突然覺得冷極了。