English
"WISH!"shecriedinastrongvoice.
"Itisfoolishandwicked,"hefaltered.
"WISH!"repeatedhiswife.
Heraisedhishand."Iwishmysonaliveagain."
Thetalismanfelltothefloor,andheregardeditfearfully.Thenhesanktremblingintoachairastheoldwoman,withburningeyes,walkedtothewindowandraisedtheblind.
Hesatuntilhewaschilledwiththecold,glancingoccasionallyatthefigureoftheoldwomanpeeringthroughthewindow.
Thecandle-end,whichhadburnedbelowtherimofthechinacandlestick,wasthrowingpulsatingshadowsontheceilingandwalls,untilwithaflickerlargerthantherest,itexpired.
Theoldman,withanunspeakablesenseofreliefatthefailureofthetalisman,creptbackbacktohisbed,andaminuteafterwardtheoldwomancamesilentlyandapatheticallybesidehim.
Neitherspoke,butsatsilentlylisteningtothetickingoftheclock.Astaircreaked,andasqueakymousescurriednoisilythroughthewall.
Thedarknesswasoppressive,andafterlyingforsometimescrewinguphiscourage,hetooktheboxofmatches,andstrikingone,wentdownstairsforacandle.
Atthefootofthestairsthematchwentout,andhepausedtostrikeanother;andatthesamemomentaknockcamesoquietandstealthyastobescarcelyaudible,soundedonthefrontdoor.
Thematchesfellfromhishandandspilledinthepassage.Hestoodmotionless,hisbreathsuspendeduntiltheknockwasrepeated.
Thenheturnedandfledswiftlybacktohisroom,andclosedthedoorbehindhim.Athirdknocksoundedthroughthehouse.
"WHAT'STHAT?"criedtheoldwoman,startingup.
"Arat,"saidtheoldmaninshakingtones-"arat.Itpassedmeonthestairs."
Hiswifesatupinbedlistening.Aloudknockresoundedthroughthehouse.
"It'sHerbert!"
Sherantothedoor,butherhusbandwasbeforeher,andcatchingherbythearm,heldhertightly.
"Whatareyougoingtodo?"hewhisperedhoarsely.
"It'smyboy;it'sHerbert!"shecried,strugglingmechanically."Iforgotitwastwomilesaway.Whatareyouholdingmefor?Letgo.Imustopenthedoor."
"ForGod'ssakedon'tletitin,"criedtheoldman,trembling.
"You'reafraidofyourownson,"shecriedstruggling."Letmego.I'mcoming,Herbert;I'mcoming."
Therewasanotherknock,andanother.Theoldwomanwithasuddenwrenchbrokefreeandranfromtheroom.
Herhusbandfollowedtothelanding,andcalledafterherappealinglyasshehurrieddownstairs.Heheardthechainrattlebackandtheboltdrawnslowlyandstifflyfromthesocket.Thentheoldwoman'svoice,strainedandpanting.
"Thebolt,"shecriedloudly."Comedown.Ican'treachit."
Butherhusbandwasonhishandsandkneesgropingwildlyonthefloorinsearchofthepaw.Ifonlyhecouldfinditbeforethethingoutsidegotin.
Aperfectfusilladeofknocksreverberatedthroughthehouse,andheheardthescrapingofachairashiswifeputitdowninthepassageagainstthedoor.
Heheardthecreakingoftheboltasitcameslowlyback,andatthesamemomenthefoundthemonkey'spaw,andfranticallybreathedhisthirdandlastwish.
Theknockingceasedsuddenly,althoughtheechoesofitwerestillinthehouse.Heheardthechairdrawnback,andthedooropened.
Acoldwindrushedupthestaircase,andalongloudwailofdisappointmentandmiseryfromhiswifegavehimthecouragetorundowntoherside,andthentothegatebeyond.
Thestreetlampflickeringoppositeshoneonaquietanddesertedroad.
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