Chapter 2

He sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it. The last

face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement. It got so vivid

that, with a little uneasy laugh, he felt on the table for a glass containing a little water

to throw over it. His hand grasped the monkey's paw, and with a little shiver he wiped

his hand on his coat and went up to bed.

II.

IN the brightness of the wintry sun next morning as it streamed over the breakfast

table Herbert 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?"

His wife made no reply. She was watching the mysterious movements of a man

outside, who, peering in an undecided fashion at the house, appeared to be trying to

make up his mind to enter. In mental connection with the two hundred pounds, she

noticed that the stranger was well dressed and wore a silk hat of glossy newness.

Three times he paused at the gate, and then walked on again. The fourth time he stood

with his hand upon it, and then with sudden resolution flung it open and walked up the path. Mrs. White at the same moment placed her hands behind her, and hurriedly

unfastening the strings of her apron, put that useful article of apparel beneath the

cushion of her chair.

She brought the stranger, who seemed ill at ease, into the room. He gazed at her

furtively, and listened in a preoccupied fashion as the old lady apologized for the

appearance of the room, and her husband's coat, a garment which he usually reserved

for the garden. She then waited as patiently as her sex would permit, for him to

broach his business, but he was at first strangely silent.

"I--was asked to call," he said at last, and stooped and picked a piece of cotton from

his trousers. "I come from Maw and Meggins."

The old lady started. "Is anything the matter?" she asked breathlessly. "Has anything

happened to Herbert? What is it? What is it?"

Her husband interposed. "There, there, mother," he said hastily. "Sit down, and don't

jump to conclusions. You've not brought bad news, I'm sure, sir" and he eyed the

other wistfully.

"I'm sorry----" began the visitor.

"Is he hurt?" demanded the mother.

The visitor bowed in assent. "Badly hurt," he said quietly, "but he is not in any

pain."

"Oh, thank God!" said the old woman, clasping her hands. "Thank God for that!

Thank----"

She broke off suddenly as the sinister meaning of the assurance dawned upon her

and she saw the awful confirmation of her fears in the other's averted face. She caught

her breath, and turning to her slower-witted husband, laid her trembling old hand

upon his. There was a long silence.

"He was caught in the machinery," said the visitor at length, in a low voice.

"Caught in the machinery," repeated Mr. White, in a dazed fashion, "yes."

He sat staring blankly out at the window, and taking his wife's hand between his

own, pressed it as he had been wont to do in their old courting days nearly forty years

before.

"He was the only one left to us," he said, turning gently to the visitor. "It is hard."

The other coughed, and rising, walked slowly to the window. "The firm wished me

to convey their sincere sympathy with you in your great loss," he said, without

looking round. "I beg that you will understand I am only their servant and merely

obeying orders."