評論
打印
It was nearly midnight. In their warm living-room, the two old people and their son sat and talked about the soldier's stories.
已經快半夜了。在他們溫暖的客廳里，兩位老人和他們的兒子在談論著老兵的故事。
"India is a wonderful country," Mr White said. "What exciting stories! It was a good evening."
“印度是一個神奇的國家，”懷特先生說，“多么激動人心的故事！多么美好的夜晚。”
Mrs White stood up to take some things into the kitchen, but she stopped and listened to Herbert and his father.
懷特太太站起來要拿東西進廚房，但她卻停下來聽赫伯特和他父親談話。
"Yes," Herbert said. "Morris told some interesting stories, but, of course, some of them weren't true."
“是的，”赫伯特說，“莫里斯講了一些有趣的故事，但是，有些東西不一定是真實的。”
"Oh Herbert!"mrs White said.
“哦，赫伯特！”懷特太太說。
"Well, Mother, that story about the monkey's paw wasn't true. A dirty little monkey's paw isn't magic! But it was a good story." And Herbert smiled.
“是的，母親，有關猴爪的故事不是真的。一只臟的猴爪哪會有魔力！但這個故事很好。”赫伯特笑著說。
"Well, I think you"re right, Herbert," his mother said.
“我想你是對的，赫伯特。”他母親說。
"I don't know，" Mr White said quietly. "Perhaps the story was true. Strange things can happen sometimes."
“我不知道，”懷特先生平靜地說，“也許這個故事是真的。怪事有時也會發生。”
Mrs White looked at her husband. "Did you give some money to Tom Morris for that paw?" she asked．"We don't have money to give away for nothing!" Mrs White was angry now.
懷特太太看著她的丈夫。“你從莫里斯那兒拿來猴爪給他錢了嗎？”她問。“我們沒有多余的錢去為無價值的東西付出！”懷特太太現在發怒了。
"Well, yes," her husband answered. "I did, but not much, and at first he didn't want to take it. He wanted the monkey's paw."
“是的，”她丈夫回答說，“我付錢了，但不多。開始他不想要錢，他要他的猴爪。”
"Well, he can't have it," Herbert laughed. "It's our paw now and we're going to be rich and happy. Come on, Father. Make a wish!"
“好啦，莫里斯不再擁有猴爪了，”赫伯特笑了起來。“猴爪現在屬于我們，我們將變得富有幸福。來吧，父親。許個愿！”
Old Mr White took the paw from his pocket．"OK，Herbert， but what am I going to ask for? I have everything—you, your mother. What do I need?"
老懷特先生從口袋里拿出猴爪。“好吧，赫伯特，但我還要什么呢？我擁有一切——你，你母親。我需要什么呢？”
"Money, of course," Herbert answered quickly. "We need money! You're always thinking about money. That's be cause we haven't got very much of it.
“當然是錢，”赫伯特迅速回答，“我們需要錢！你總是為錢而費盡心思，那是因為我們沒有錢。
With money you can pay for this house. It can be your house! Go on, Father, wish for thirty thousand pounds!"
有錢你能買房子。真正屬于你的房子！來吧，父親，許愿吧，愿咱們有30 000英鎊。”
Herbert stopped talking and his old father thought for a minute. The room was quiet and they could hear the rain on the windows.
赫伯特停止了講話，他的父親思考了一會兒。房子里很安靜，他們能夠聽到雨點打在大窗戶上的聲音。
Then Mr White took the monkey's paw in his right hand. He was afraid， but he looked at his wife and she smiled at him.
接著懷特先生拿出猴爪放在右手。他很害怕，他看著妻子；他的妻子沖他微笑。
"Go on," she said.
“說吧。”她說。
