Hesatuntilhewaschilledwiththecold, , whichhadburntbelowtherimofthechinacandlestick, wasthrowingpulsatingshadowsontheceilingandwalls, until, withaflickerlargerthantherest, , withanunspeakablesenseofreliefatthefailureofthetalisman, creptbacktohisbed, andaminuteortwoafterwardtheoldwomancamesilentlyandapatheticallybesidehim.
Neitherspoke, , , andafterlyingforsometimescrewinguphiscourage, thehusbandtooktheboxofmatches, andstrikingone, wentdownstairsforacandle.
Atthefootofthestairsthematchwentout, andhepausedtostrikeanother, andatthesamemomentaknock, soquietandstealthyastobescarcelyaudible, soundedonthefrontdoor.
, , .
“Whatsthat?”criedtheoldwoman, startingup.
“Arat，”saidtheoldman, inshakingtones-“.”
.
“ItsHerbert！”shescreamed.“ItsHerbert！”
Sherantothedoor, butherhusbandwasbeforeher, andcatchingherbythearm, heldhertightly.
“Whatareyougoingtodo?”hewhisperedhoarsely.
“It‘smyboy；it’sHerbert！”shecried, strugglingmechanically.“?.”
“ForGod‘ssake, don’tletitin，”criedtheoldmantrembling.
“Youreafraidofyourownson，”shecried, struggling.“Letmego.I‘mcoming, Herbert；I’mcoming.”
Therewasanotherknock, , , strainedandpanting.
“Thebolt，”shecriedloudly.“.”
, , andatthesamemomenthefoundthemonkeyspaw, andfranticallybreathedhisthirdandlastwish.
Theknockingceasedsuddenly, , andalongloudwailofdisappointmentandmiseryfromhiswifegavehimcouragetorundowntoherside, .
一
这是一个阴冷的夜晚，但是在拉波诺姆·维拉镇的一间拉着窗帘的小客厅里，炉火正旺，父亲和儿子正在下棋。由于父亲误将王放到一个不必要的危险境地，棋局形势逆转，就连在火炉边静静织毛衣的白发老太太也过来评论了。
“听这风声，”怀特先生说，他看着这一步错棋导致满盘皆输的形势，试图用亲昵来转移儿子的注意力，不让他发现。
