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English–I

Notes His father, smiling shamefacedly at his own credulity, held up the talisman, as his son, with
a solemn face, somewhat marred by a wink at his mother, sat down at the piano and struck
a few impressive chords.
“I wish for two hundred pounds,” said the old man distinctly.
A fine crash from the piano greeted the words, interrupted by a shuddering cry from the old
man. His wife and son ran toward him.
“It moved,” he cried, with a glance of disgust at the object as it lay on the floor.
“As I wished, it twisted in my hand like a snake.”
“Well, I don’t see the money,” said his son as he picked it up and placed it on the table, “and
I bet I never shall.”
“It must have been your fancy, father,” said his wife, regarding him anxiously.
He shook his head. “Never mind, though; there’s no harm done, but it gave me a shock all
the same.”
They sat down by the fire again while the two men finished their pipes. Outside, the wind was
higher than ever, and the old man started nervously at the sound of a door banging upstairs.
A silence unusual and depressing settled upon all three, which lasted until the old couple rose
to retire for the night.
“I expect you’ll find the cash tied up in a big bag in the middle of your bed,” said Herbert,
as he bade them good-night, “and something horrible squatting up on top of the wardrobe
watching you as you pocket your ill-gotten gains.”
In the brightness of the wintry sun next morning as it streamed over the breakfast table he
laughed at his fears. There was an air of prosaic wholesomeness about the room which it had
lacked on the previous night, and the dirty, shrivelled little paw was pitched on the sideboard
with a carelessness which betokened no great belief in its virtues.
“I suppose all old soldiers are the same,” said Mrs. White. “The idea of our listening to such
nonsense! How could wishes be granted in these days? And if they could, how could two
hundred pounds hurt you, father?” “Might drop on his head from the sky,” said the frivolous
Herbert.
“Morris said the things happened so naturally,” said’ his father, “that you might if you so
wished attribute it to coincidence.”
“Well, don’t break into the money before I come back,” said Herbert as he rose from the table.
“I’m afraid it’ll turn you into a mean, avaricious man, and we shall have to disown you.”
His mother laughed, and following him to the door, watched him down the road; and returning
to the breakfast table, was very happy at the expense of her husband’s credulity. All of which
did not prevent her from scurrying to the door at the postman’s knock, nor prevent her from
referring somewhat shortly to retired sergeant-majors of bibulous habits when she found that
the post brought a tailor’s bill.
“Herbert will have some more of his funny remarks, I expect, when he comes home,” she said,
as they sat at dinner.
“I dare say,” said Mr. White, pouring himself out some beer; “but for all that, the thing moved
in my hand; that I’ll swear to.”
“You thought it did,” said the old lady soothingly.
“I say it did,” replied the other. “There was no thought about it; I had just—What’s the
matter?”

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