the witch and other stories-第18节

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length　of　the　kitchen　garden。　The　dark　beds　looked　like
flattened…out　graves。　They　smelt　of　dug　earth　and　the　tender
dampness　of　plants　beginning　to　be　covered　with　dew。　。　。　。　A　red
light　was　still　gleaming　on　the　left。　It　winked　genially　and
seemed　to　smile。

I　heard　a　happy　laugh。　It　was　Agafya　laughing。

〃And　the　train？〃　I　thought。　〃The　train　has　come　in　long　ago。〃

Waiting　a　little　longer；　I　went　back　to　the　shanty。　Savka　was
sitting　motionless；　his　legs　crossed　like　a　Turk；　and　was　softly；
scarcely　audibly　humming　a　song　consisting　of　words　of　one
syllable　something　like：　〃Out　on　you；　fie　on　you　。　。　。　I　and
you。〃　Agafya；　intoxicated　by　the　vodka；　by　Savka's　scornful
caresses；　and　by　the　stifling　warmth　of　the　night；　was　lying　on
the　earth　beside　him；　pressing　her　face　convulsively　to　his
knees。　She　was　so　carried　away　by　her　feelings　that　she　did　not
even　notice　my　arrival。

〃Agasha；　the　train　has　been　in　a　long　time；〃　I　said。

〃It's　time　　it's　time　you　were　gone；〃　Savka；　tossing　his　head；
took　up　my　thought。　〃What　are　you　sprawling　here　for？　You
shameless　hussy！〃

Agafya　started；　took　her　head　from　his　knees；　glanced　at　me；　and
sank　down　beside　him　again。

〃You　ought　to　have　gone　long　ago；〃　I　said。

Agafya　turned　round　and　got　up　on　one　knee。　。　。　。　She　was
unhappy。　。　。　。　For　half　a　minute　her　whole　figure；　as　far　as　I
could　distinguish　it　through　the　darkness；　expressed　conflict　and
hesitation。　There　was　an　instant　when；　seeming　to　come　to
herself；　she　drew　herself　up　to　get　upon　her　feet；　but　then　some
invincible　and　implacable　force　seemed　to　push　her　whole　body；
and　she　sank　down　beside　Savka　again。

〃Bother　him！〃　she　said；　with　a　wild；　guttural　laugh；　and　reckless
determination；　impotence；　and　pain　could　be　heard　in　that　laugh。

I　strolled　quietly　away　to　the　copse；　and　from　there　down　to　the
river；　where　our　fishing　lines　were　set。　The　river　slept。　Some
soft；　fluffy…petalled　flower　on　a　tall　stalk　touched　my　cheek
tenderly　like　a　child　who　wants　to　let　one　know　it's　awake。　To
pass　the　time　I　felt　for　one　of　the　lines　and　pulled　at　it。　It
yielded　e　asily　and　hung　limply　　nothing　had　been　caught。　。　。　。
The　further　bank　and　the　village　could　not　be　seen。　A　light
gleamed　in　one　hut；　but　soon　went　out。　I　felt　my　way　along　the
bank；　found　a　hollow　place　which　I　had　noticed　in　the　daylight；
and　sat　down　in　it　as　in　an　arm…chair。　I　sat　there　a　long　time。　。
。　。　I　saw　the　stars　begin　to　grow　misty　and　lose　their
brightness；　a　cool　breath　passed　over　the　earth　like　a　faint　sigh
and　touched　the　leaves　of　the　slumbering　osiers。　。　。　。

〃A…ga…fya！〃　a　hollow　voice　called　from　the　village。　〃Agafya！〃

It　was　the　husband；　who　had　returned　home；　and　in　alarm　was
looking　for　his　wife　in　the　village。　At　that　moment　there　came
the　sound　of　unrestrained　laughter：　the　wife；　forgetful　of
everything；　sought　in　her　intoxication　to　make　up　by　a　few　hours
of　happiness　for　the　misery　awaiting　her　next　day。

I　dropped　asleep。

When　I　woke　up　Savka　was　sitting　beside　me　and　lightly　shaking　my
shoulder。　The　river；　the　copse；　both　banks；　green　and　washed；
trees　and　fields　　all　were　bathed　in　bright　morning　light。
Through　the　slim　trunks　of　the　trees　the　rays　of　the　newly　risen
sun　beat　upon　my　back。

〃So　that's　how　you　catch　fish？〃　laughed　Savka。　〃Get　up！〃

I　got　up；　gave　a　luxurious　stretch；　and　began　greedily　drinking
in　the　damp　and　fragrant　air。

〃Has　Agasha　gone？〃　I　asked。

〃There　she　is；〃　said　Savka；　pointing　in　the　direction　of　the
ford。

I　glanced　and　saw　Agafya。　Dishevelled；　with　her　kerchief　dropping
off　her　head；　she　was　crossing　the　river；　holding　up　her　skirt。
Her　legs　were　scarcely　moving。　。　。　。

〃The　cat　knows　whose　meat　it　has　eaten；〃　muttered　Savka；　screwing
up　his　eyes　as　he　looked　at　her。　〃She　goes　with　her　tail　hanging
down。　。　。　。　They　are　sly　as　cats；　these　women；　and　timid　as
hares。　。　。　。　She　didn't　go；　silly　thing；　in　the　evening　when　we
told　her　to！　Now　she　will　catch　it；　and　they'll　flog　me　again　at
the　peasant　court　。　。　。　all　on　account　of　the　women。　。　。　。〃

Agafya　stepped　upon　the　bank　and　went　across　the　fields　to　the
village。　At　first　she　walked　fairly　boldly；　but　soon　terror　and
excitement　got　the　upper　hand；　she　turned　round　fearfully；
stopped　and　took　breath。

〃Yes；　you　are　frightened！〃　Savka　laughed　mournfully；　looking　at
the　bright　green　streak　left　by　Agafya　in　the　dewy　grass。　〃She
doesn't　want　to　go！　Her　husband's　been　standing　waiting　for　her
for　a　good　hour。　。　。　。　Did　you　see　him？〃

Savka　said　the　last　words　with　a　smile；　but　they　sent　a　chill　to
my　heart。　In　the　village；　near　the　furthest　hut；　Yakov　was
standing　in　the　road；　gazing　fixedly　at　his　returning　wife。　He
stood　without　stirring；　and　was　as　motionless　as　a　post。　What　was
he　thinking　as　he　looked　at　her？　What　words　was　he　preparing　to
greet　her　with？　Agafya　stood　still　a　little　while；　looked　round
once　more　as　though　expecting　help　from　us；　and　went　on。　I　have
never　seen　anyone；　drunk　or　sober；　move　as　she　did。　Agafya　seemed
to　be　shrivelled　up　by　her　husband's　eyes。　At　one　time　she　moved
in　zigzags；　then　she　moved　her　feet　up　and　down　without　going
forward；　bending　her　knees　and　stretching　out　her　hands；　then　she
staggered　back。　When　she　had　gone　another　hundred　paces　she
looked　round　once　more　and　sat　down。

〃You　ought　at　least　to　hide　behind　a　bush　。　。　。〃　I　said　to　Savka。
〃If　the　husband　sees　you　。　。　。〃

〃He　knows；　anyway；　who　it　is　Agafya　has　come　from。　。　。　。　The
women　don't　go　to　the　kitchen　garden　at　night　for　cabbages　　we
all　know　that。〃

I　glanced　at　Savka's　face。　It　was　pale　and　puckered　up　with　a
look　of　fastidious　pity　such　as　one　sees　in　the　faces　of　people
watching　tortured　animals。

〃What's　fun　for　the　cat　is　tears　for　the　mouse。　。　。〃　he　muttered。

Agafya　suddenly　jumped　up；　shook　her　head；　and　with　a　bold　step
went　towards　her　husband。　She　had　evidently　plucked　up　her
courage　and　made　up　her　mind。


AT　CHRISTMAS　TIME

I

〃WHAT　shall　I　write？〃　said　Yegor；　and　he　dipped　his　pen　in　the
ink。

Vasilisa　had　not　seen　her　daughter　for　four　years。　Her　daughter
Yefimya　had　gone　after　her　wedding　to　Petersburg；　had　sent　them
two　letters；　and　since　then　seemed　to　vanish　out　of　their　lives；
there　had　been　no　sight　nor　sound　of　her。　And　whether　the　old
woman　were　milking　her　cow　at　dawn；　or　heating　her　stove；　or
dozing　at　night；　she　was　always　thinking　of　one　and　the　same
thing　　what　was　happening　to　Yefimya；　whether　she　were　alive
out　yonder。　She　ought　to　have　sent　a　letter；　but　the　old　father
could　not　write；　and　there　was　no　one　to　write。

But　now　Christmas　had　come；　and　Vasilisa　could　not　bear　it　any
longer；　and　went　to　the　tavern　to　Yegor；　the　brother　of　the
innkeeper's　wife；　who　had　sat　in　the　tavern　doing　nothing　ever
since　he　came　back　from　the　army；　people　said　that　he　could　write
letters　very　well　if　he　were　properly　paid。　Vasilisa　talked　to
the　cook　at　the　tavern；　then　to　the　mistress　of　the　house；　then
to　Yegor　himself。　They　agreed　upon　fifteen　kopecks。

And　now　　it　happened　on　the　second　day　of　the　holidays；　in　the
tavern　kitchen　　Yegor　was　sitting　at　the　table；　holding　the　pen
in　his　hand。　Vasilisa　was　standing　before　him；　pondering　with　an
expression　of　anxiety　and　woe　on　her　face。　Pyotr；　her　husband；　a
very　thin　old　man　with　a　brownish　bald　patch；　had　come　with　her；
he　stood　looking　straight　before　him　like　a　blind　man。　On　the
stove　a　piece　of　pork　was　being　braised　in　a　saucepan；　it　was
spurting　and　hissing；　and　seemed　to　be　actually　saying：
〃Flu…flu…flu。〃　It　was　stifling。

〃What　am　I　to　write？〃　Yegor　asked　again。

〃What？〃　asked　Vasilisa；　looking　at　him　angrily　and　suspiciously。
〃Don't　worry　me！　You　are　not　writing　for　nothing；　no　fear；　you'll
be　paid　for　it。　Come；　write：　'To　our　dear　son…in…law；　Andrey
Hrisanfitch；　and　to　our　only　beloved　daughter；　Yefimya　Petrovna；
with　our　love　we　send　a　low　bow　and　our　parental　blessing　abiding
for　ever。'　〃

〃Written；　fire　away。〃

〃　'And　we　wish　them　a　happy　Christmas；　we　are　alive　and　well；　and
I　wish　you　the　same；　please　the　Lord　。　。　。　the　Heavenly　King。'　〃

Vasilisa　pondered　and　exchanged　glances　with　the　old　man。

〃　'And　I　wish　you　the　same；　please　the　Lord　the　Heavenly　King；'　〃
she　repeated；　beginning　to　cry。

She　could　say　nothing　more。　And　yet　before；　when　she　lay　awake
thinking　at　night；　it　had　seemed　to　her　that　she　could　not　get
all　she　had　to　say　into　a　dozen　letters。　Since　the　time　when　her
daughter　had　gone　away　with　her　husband　much　water　had　flowed
into　the　sea；　the　old　people　had　lived　feeling　bereaved；　and
sighed　heavily　at　night　as　though　they　had　buried　their　daughter。
And　how　many　events　had　occurred　in　the　village　since　then；　how
many　marriages　and　deaths！　How　long　the　winters　had　been！　How
long　the　nights！

〃It's　hot；〃　said　Yegor；　unbuttoning　his　waistcoat。　〃It　must　be
seventy　degrees。　What　more？〃　he　asked。

The　old　people　were　silent。

〃What　does　your　son…in…law　do　in　Petersburg？〃　asked　Yegor。

〃He　was　a　soldier；　my　good　friend；〃　the　old　man　answered　in　a
weak　voice。　〃　He　left　the　service　at　the　same　time　as　you　did。　He
was　a　soldier；　and　now；　to　be　sure；　he　is　at　Petersburg　at　a
hyd