Therewasnoreply；theoldwoman‘sfacewaswhite, hereyesstaring, andherbreathinaudible；onthehusband’sfacewasalooksuchashisfriendthesergeantmighthavecarriedintohisfrstaction.
“IwastosaythatMawandMegginsdisclaimallresponsibility，”continuedtheother.“Theyadmitnoliabilityatall, butinconsiderationofyoursonsservicestheywishtopresentyouwithacertainsumascompensation.”
, andrisingtohisfeet, ，“Howmuch?”
“Twohundredpounds，”wastheanswer.
Unconsciousofhiswifesshriek, theoldmansmiledfaintly, putouthishandslikeasightlessman, anddropped, asenselessheap, tothefoor.
III
Inthehugenewcemetery, sometwomilesdistant, theoldpeopleburiedtheirdead, , andremainedinastateofexpectationasthoughofsomethingelsetohappen-somethingelsewhichwastolightenthisload, tooheavyforoldheartstobear.
Butthedayspassed, andexpectationgaveplacetoresignation-thehopelessresignationoftheold, sometimesmiscalled, , fornowtheyhadnothingtotalkabout, andtheirdayswerelongtoweariness.
Itwasaboutaweekafterthatthattheoldman, wakingsuddenlyinthenight, , .
“Comeback，”hesaidtenderly.“Youwillbecold.”
“Itiscolderformyson，”saidtheoldwoman, andweptafresh.
, , andthensleptuntilasuddenwildcryfromhiswifeawokehimwithastart.
“Thepaw！”shecriedwildly.“Themonkeyspaw！”
Hestartedupinalarm.“Where?Whereisit?Whatsthematter?”
Shecamestumblingacrosstheroomtowardhim.“Iwantit，”shesaidquietly.“Youvenotdestroyedit?”
“Itsintheparlour, onthebracket，”hereplied, marvelling.“Why?”
Shecriedandlaughedtogether, andbendingover, kissedhischeek.
