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第14章 猴爪4（第1页）

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"Isuosealloldsoldiersarethesame，

"saidMrsWhite。

"Theideaofourlisteningtosuchnonsense!Howcouldwishesbegrantedinthesedays?Andiftheycould，howcouldtwohundredoundshurtyou，father?

"

"Mightdroonhisheadfromthesky，

"saidthefrivolousHerbert。

"Morrissaidthethingshaenedsonaturally，

"saidhisfather，

"thatyoumightifyousowishedattributeittocoincidence。

"

"Well，dontbreakintothemoneybeforeIcomeback，

"saidHerbert，asherosefromthetable。

"Imafraiditllturnyouintoamean，avariciousman，andweshallhavetodisownyou。

"

Hismotherlaughed，andfollowinghimtothedoor，watchedhimdowntheroad，andreturningtothebreakfasttable，wasveryhayattheexenseofherhusbandscredulity。Allofwhichdidnotreventherfromscurryingtothedoorattheostmansknock，norreventherfromreferringsomewhatshortlytoretiredsergeant-majorsofbibuloushabitswhenshefoundthattheostbroughtatailorsbill。

"Herbertwillhavesomemoreofhisfunnyremarks，Iexect，whenhecomeshome，

"shesaid，astheysatatdinner。

"Idaresay，

"saidMr。White，ouringhimselfoutsomebeer;

"butforallthat，thethingmovedinmyhand;thatIllswearto。

"

"Youthoughtitdid，

"saidtheoldladysoothingly。

"Isayitdid，

"reliedtheother。

"Therewasnothoughtaboutit;Ihadjust—Whatsthematter?

"

Hiswifemadenorely。Shewaswatchingthemysteriousmovementsofamanoutside，who，eeringinanundecidedfashionatthehouse，aearedtobetryingtomakeuhismindtoenter。Inmentalconnectionwiththetwohundredounds，shenoticedthatthestrangerwaswelldressedandworeasilkhatofglossynewness。Threetimesheausedatthegate，andthenwalkedonagain。Thefourthtimehestoodwithhishanduonit，andthenwithsuddenresolutionflungitoenandwalkedutheath。Mrs。Whiteatthesamemomentlacedherhandsbehindher，andhurriedlyunfasteningthestringsofheraron，utthatusefularticleofaarelbeneaththecushionofherchair。

Shebroughtthestranger，whoseemedillatease，intotheroom。Hegazedatherfurtively，andlistenedinareoccuiedfashionastheoldladyaologizedfortheaearanceoftheroom，andherhusbandscoat，agarmentwhichheusuallyreservedforthegarden。Shethenwaitedasatientlyashersexwouldermit，forhimtobroachhisbusiness，buthewasatfirststrangelysilent。

"I—wasaskedtocall，

"hesaidatlast，andstooedandickedaieceofcottonfromhistrousers。