, , andthensleptuntilasuddenwildcryfromhiswifeawokehimwithastart.
"Thepaw!" shecriedwildly."Themonkey'spaw!"
Hestartedupinalarm."Where?Whereisit?What'sthematter?"
Shecamestumblingacrosstheroomtowardhim."Iwantit," shesaidquietly."You'venotdestroyedit?"
"It'sintheparlour, onthebracket," hereplied, marvelling."Why?"
Shecriedandlaughedtogether, andbendingover, kissedhischeek.
"Ionlyjustthoughtofit," shesaidhysterically."Whydidn'tIthinkofitbefore?Whydidn'tyouthinkofit?"
"Thinkofwhat?" hequestioned.
"Theothertwowishes," sherepliedrapidly."We'veonlyhadone."
"Wasnotthatenough?" hedemandedfiercely.
"No," shecried, triumphantly,"we', andwishourboyaliveagain."
Themansatupinbedandflungthebedclothesfromhisquakinglimbs."GoodGod, youaremad!"hecriedaghast.
"Getit," shepanted,"getitquickly, andwish—Oh, myboy, myboy!"
Herhusbandstruckamatchandlitthecandle."Getbacktobed," hesaid, unsteadily."Youdon'tknowwhatyouaresaying."
"Wehadthefirstwishgranted," saidtheoldwoman, feverishly,"whynotthesecond."
"Acoincidence," stammeredtheoldman.
"Goandgetitandwish," criedtheoldwoman, quiveringwithexcitement.
Theoldmanturnedandregardedher, andhisvoiceshook."Hehasbeendeadtendays, andbesideshe—Iwouldnottellyouelse, but—, hownow?"
"Bringhimback," criedtheoldwoman, anddraggedhimtowardthedoor."DoyouthinkIfearthechildIhavenursed?"
