"hecriedaghast。
"Getit,
"sheanted,
"getitquickly,andwish—Oh,myboy,myboy!
"
Herhusbandstruckamatchandlitthecandle。
"Getbacktobed,
"hesaid,unsteadily。
"Youdontknowwhatyouaresaying。
"
"Wehadthefirstwishgranted,
"saidtheoldwoman,feverishly,
"whynotthesecond。
"
"Acoincidence,
"stammeredtheoldman。
"Goandgetitandwish,
"criedtheoldwoman,quiveringwithexcitement。
Theoldmanturnedandregardedher,andhisvoiceshook。
"Hehasbeendeadtendays,andbesideshe—Iwouldnottellyouelse,but—Icouldonlyrecognizehimbyhisclothing。Ifhewastooterribleforyoutoseethen,hownow?
"
"Bringhimback,
"criedtheoldwoman,anddraggedhimtowardthedoor。
"DoyouthinkIfearthechildIhavenursed?
"
Hewentdowninthedarkness,andfelthiswaytothearlour,andthentothemanteliece。Thetalismanwasinitslace,andahorriblefearthattheunsokenwishmightbringhismutilatedsonbeforehimerehecouldescaefromtheroomseizeduonhim,andhecaughthisbreathashefoundthathehadlostthedirectionofthedoor。Hisbrowcoldwithsweat,hefelthiswayroundthetable,andgroedalongthewalluntilhefoundhimselfinthesmallassagewiththeunwholesomethinginhishand。
Evenhiswifesfaceseemedchangedasheenteredtheroom。Itwaswhiteandexectant,andtohisfearsseemedtohaveanunnaturallookuonit。Hewasafraidofher。
"Wish!
"shecried,inastrongvoice。
"Itisfoolishandwicked,
"hefaltered。
"Wish!
"reeatedhiswife。
Heraisedhishand。
"Iwishmysonaliveagain。
"