It was nearly midnight.In their warm living-room, the two old people and their son sat and talked about the soldier's stories．"India is a wonderful country," Mr White said. "What exciting stories! It was a good evening."Mrs White stood up to take some things into the kitchen, but she stopped and listened to Herbert and his father."Yes," Herbert said. "Morris told some interesting stories, but, of course, some of them weren't true.""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."Well, I think you"re right, Herbert," his mother said．"I don't know，" Mr White said quietly. "Perhaps the story was true. Strange things can happen sometimes."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.
已经快半夜了。在他们温暖的客厅里，两位老人和他们的儿子在谈论着老兵的故事。“印度是一个神奇的国家，”怀特先生说，“多么激动人心的故事！多么美好的夜晚。”怀特太太站起来要拿东西进厨房，但她却停下来听赫伯特和他父亲谈话。“是的，”赫伯特说，“莫里斯讲了一些有趣的故事，但是，有些东西不一定是真实的。”"Oh Herbert!"mrs White said．“哦，赫伯特！”怀特太太说。“是的，母亲，有关猴爪的故事不是真的。一只脏的猴爪哪会有魔力！但这个故事很好。”赫伯特笑着说。“我想你是对的，赫伯特。”他母亲说。“我不知道，”怀特先生平静地说，“也许这个故事是真的。怪事有时也会发生。”怀特太太看着她的丈夫。“你从莫里斯那儿拿来猴爪给他钱了吗？”她问。“我们没有多余的钱去为无价值的东西付出！”怀特太太现在发怒了。
