书名：The Monkey's Paw 《猴爪》
作者：W.W. Jacobs 雅各布斯
简介：
你可以许三个愿，你可以要世界上存在的三样东西，你的愿望将变为现实。你会说，“这在现实世界是不可能发生的。”那么，好好想想吧。你能要什么？你想要什么？
当你许愿的时候，这仅仅是个开始。当你改变了一样东西，接着你会改变世界上的每一样东西。一个变化引起另一个变化。谁又能知道这些变化又将在哪里结束？
在这个故事中，怀特一家可以许三个愿，但他们犯了一个小小的错误。他们的第一个愿望变成了现实。接着，顷刻间，他们的生活陷入了一场可怕的恶梦……
雅各布斯（1863—1943）是一位短篇小说作家。《猴爪》是他的最有名的小说之一。
Chapter 4
The next morning the winter sun came through the window and the house felt nice and warm again. Mr White felt better and he smiled at his wife and son. The family sat down to have breakfast and they began to talk about the day. The monkey's paw was on a little table near the window, but nobody looked at it and nobody thought about it.
第二天早晨，冬日的阳光穿过窗户，房子里重新变得温暖。怀特先生感觉很好，他对着妻子和儿子微笑。一家子坐下来共进早餐，他们讨论着白天要干的事。猴爪放在窗子边的小桌上，但没有人去看它，也没有人想到它。
'I'm going to the shops this morning, ' Mrs White said. 'I want to get something nice for dinner. Are you going to come with me?' she asked her husband.
“上午我想去商店，”怀特太太说，“我想买一点好东西做晚餐，你愿意和我一块去吗？”她问丈夫。
“不，我想享受一个安静的上午。我想看书，”她丈夫回答说。
'Well, I'm not going to go out this evening, 'Herbert said, 'so we can go to bed early tonight. We were very late last night.'
“今天晚上我不想出门，”赫伯特说，“我们就能早一点上床睡觉，昨晚我们睡得太迟了。”
'And we aren't going to have stories about monkey's paws!' Mrs White said. She was angry. 'Why did we listen to your friend?' she asked her husband.' A monkey's paw can't give you things!' she stopped but the two men did not answer her. 'Thirty thousand pounds!' she said quietly. 'We needed that money.'
“我们再也不相信有关猴爪的故事！”怀特太太说。她发火了。“为什么我们要相信你的朋友？”她问丈夫，“一个猴爪不会给你任何东西的！”她停了下来，但两个男人并没有回答她。“30 000英磅！”她平静地说，“我们需要那些钱。”
Just then Herbert looked at the clock and stood up. 'I'm going to work, ' he said. 'Perhaps the postman has got the money for you in a letter. Remember, I want some of it too!' Herbert laughed and his mother laughed too.
就在这时，赫伯特看看时间并站了起来。“我要去工作了，”他说，“也许邮差在一封信里把钱寄给你，记住，我也想要一些！”赫伯特笑了，她母亲也笑了。
'Don't laugh, son, ' Mr White said. 'Tom Morris is an old friend and he thinks the story is true. Perhaps it is.'
“别笑了，孩子，”怀特先生说，“汤姆•莫里斯是我的老朋友了，既然他认为这个故事是真实的，也许就是真的。”
'Well, leave some of the money for me, 'Herbert laughed again.
“好吧，给我也留下一些钱，”赫伯特又笑了起来。
His mother laughed too and she went to the door with him.
他母亲也笑了起来并起身送儿子出门。
'Goodbye, Mother, 'Herbert said happily. 'Get some thing nice for dinner this evening at the shops. I'm always hungry after a day at work.'
“再见，妈妈。”赫伯特高兴地说，“到商店买点好吃的晚餐，工作一天后我总觉得饿。”
'I know you are!' Mrs White answered.
“我知道！”怀特太太答道。
Herbert left the house and walked quickly down the road. His mother stood at the door for some time and watched him. The winter sun was warm, but suddenly she felt very cold.
赫伯特离开了家，沿着马路快步地走。他母亲站在门边目送他远去。冬日的阳光很暧和，但怀特太太却突然觉得冷极了。
【词组学习】
1.stand up
起立；竖立；经久耐用；<非正>失约
例：I can stand up now?
我现在终于可以起来了？
2.go to bed
去睡觉；安歇
例：What time do you usually go to bed?
你通常什么时候睡觉？
