the witch and other stories-第2节

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His　wife's　logic　touched　Savely。　He　stood　with　his　bare　feet　wide
apart；　bent　his　head；　and　pondered。　He　was　not　firmly　convinced
yet　of　the　truth　of　his　suspicions；　and　his　wife's　genuine　and
unconcerned　tone　quite　disconcerted　him。　Yet　after　a　moment's
thought　he　wagged　his　head　and　said：

〃It's　not　as　though　they　were　old　men　or　bandy…legged　cripples；
it's　always　young　men　who　want　to　come　for　the　night。　。　。　。　Why
is　that？　And　if　they　only　wanted　to　warm　themselves　　But　they
are　up　to　mischief。　No；　woman；　there's　no　creature　in　this　world
as　cunning　as　your　female　sort！　Of　real　brains　you've　not　an
ounce；　less　than　a　starling；　but　for　devilish　slyness　
oo…oo…oo！　The　Queen　of　Heaven　protect　us！　There　is　the　postman's
bell！　When　the　storm　was　only　beginning　I　knew　all　that　was　in
your　mind。　That's　your　witchery；　you　spider！〃

〃Why　do　you　keep　on　at　me；　you　heathen？〃　His　wife　lost　her
patience　at　last。　〃Why　do　you　keep　sticking　to　it　like　pitch？〃

〃I　stick　to　it　because　if　anything　　God　forbid　　happens
to…night　。　。　。　do　you　hear？　。　。　。　if　anything　happens　to…night；
I'll　go　straight　off　to…morrow　morning　to　Father　Nikodim　and　tell
him　all　about　it。　'Father　Nikodim；'　I　shall　say；　'graciously
excuse　me；　but　she　is　a　witch。'　'Why　so？'　'H'm！　do　you　want　to
know　why？'　'Certainly。　。　。　。'　And　I　shall　tell　him。　And　woe　to
you；　woman！　Not　only　at　the　dread　Seat　of　Judgment；　but　in　your
earthly　life　you'll　be　punished；　too！　It's　not　for　nothing　there
are　prayers　in　the　breviary　against　your　kind！〃

Suddenly　there　was　a　knock　at　the　window；　so　loud　and　unusual
that　Savely　turned　pale　and　almost　dropped　backwards　with　fright。
His　wife　jumped　up；　and　she；　too；　turned　pale。

〃For　God's　sake；　let　us　come　in　and　get　warm！〃　they　heard　in　a
trembling　deep　bass。　〃Who　lives　here？　For　mercy's　sake！　We've
lost　our　way。〃

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　Raissa；　afraid　to　look　at　the　window。

〃The　post；〃　answered　a　second　voice。

〃You've　succeeded　with　your　devil's　tricks；〃　said　Savely　with　a
wave　of　his　hand。　〃No　mistake；　I　am　right！　Well；　you'd　better
look　out！〃

The　sexton　jumped　on　to　the　bed　in　two　skips；　stretched　himself
on　the　feather　mattress；　and　sniffing　angrily；　turned　with　his
face　to　the　wall。　Soon　he　felt　a　draught　of　cold　air　on　his　back。
The　door　creaked　and　the　tall　figure　of　a　man；　plastered　over
with　snow　from　head　to　foot；　appeared　in　the　doorway。　Behind　him
could　be　seen　a　second　figure　as　white。

〃Am　I　to　bring　in　the　bags？〃　asked　the　second　in　a　hoarse　bass
voice。

〃You　can't　leave　them　there。〃　Saying　this；　the　first　figure　began
untying　his　hood；　but　gave　it　up；　and　pulling　it　off　impatiently
with　his　cap；　angrily　flung　it　near　the　stove。　Then　taking　off
his　greatcoat；　he　threw　that　down　beside　it；　and；　without　saying
good…evening；　began　pacing　up　and　down　the　hut。

He　was　a　fair…haired；　young　postman　wearing　a　shabby　uniform　and
black　rusty…looking　high　boots。　After　warming　himself　by　walking
to　and　fro；　he　sat　down　at　the　table；　stretched　out　his　muddy
feet　towards　the　sacks　and　leaned　his　chin　on　his　fist。　His　pale
face；　reddened　in　places　by　the　cold；　still　bore　vivid　traces　of
the　pain　and　terror　he　had　just　been　through。　Though　distorted　by
anger　and　bearing　traces　of　recent　suffering；　physical　and　moral；
it　was　handsome　in　spite　of　the　melting　snow　on　the　eyebrows；
moustaches；　and　short　beard。

〃It's　a　dog's　life！〃　muttered　the　postman；　looking　round　the
walls　and　seeming　hardly　able　to　believe　that　he　was　in　the
warmth。　〃We　were　nearly　lost！　If　it　had　not　been　for　your　light；
I　don't　know　what　would　have　happened。　Goodness　only　knows　when
it　will　all　be　over！　There's　no　end　to　this　dog's　life！　Where
have　we　come？〃　he　asked；　dropping　his　voice　and　raising　his　eyes
to　the　sexton's　wife。

〃To　the　Gulyaevsky　Hill　on　General　Kalinovsky's　estate；〃　she
answered；　startled　and　blushing。

〃Do　you　hear；　Stepan？〃　The　postman　turned　to　the　driver；　who　was
wedged　in　the　doorway　with　a　huge　mail…bag　on　his　shoulders。
〃We've　got　to　Gulyaevsky　Hill。〃

〃Yes　。　。　。　we're　a　long　way　out。〃　Jerking　out　these　words　like　a
hoarse　sigh；　the　driver　went　out　and　soon　after　returned　with
another　bag；　then　went　out　once　more　and　this　time　brought　the
postman's　sword　on　a　big　belt；　of　the　pattern　of　that　long　flat
blade　with　which　Judith　is　portrayed　by　the　bedside　of　Holofernes
in　cheap　woodcuts。　Laying　the　bags　along　the　wall；　he　went　out
into　the　outer　room；　sat　down　there　and　lighted　his　pipe。

〃Perhaps　you'd　like　some　tea　after　your　journey？〃　Raissa
inquired。

〃How　can　we　sit　drinking　tea？〃　said　the　postman；　frowning。　〃We
must　make　haste　and　get　warm；　and　then　set　off；　or　we　shall　be
late　for　the　mail　train。　We'll　stay　ten　minutes　and　then　get　on
our　way。　Only　be　so　good　as　to　show　us　the　way。〃

〃What　an　infliction　it　is；　this　weather！〃　sighed　Raissa。

〃H'm；　yes。　。　。　。　Who　may　you　be？〃

〃We？　We　live　here；　by　the　church。　。　。　。　We　belong　to　the　clergy。
。　。　。　There　lies　my　husband。　Savely；　get　up　and　say　good…evening！
This　used　to　be　a　separate　parish　till　eighteen　months　ago。　Of
course；　when　the　gentry　lived　here　there　were　more　people；　and　it
was　worth　while　to　have　the　services。　But　now　the　gentry　have
gone；　and　I　need　not　tell　you　there's　nothing　for　the　clergy　to
live　on。　The　nearest　village　is　Markovka；　and　that's　over　three
miles　away。　Savely　is　on　the　retired　list　now；　and　has　got　the
watchman's　job；　he　has　to　look　after　the　church。　。　。　。〃

And　the　postman　was　immediately　informed　that　if　Savely　were　to
go　to　the　General's　lady　and　ask　her　for　a　letter　to　the　bishop；
he　would　be　given　a　good　berth。　〃But　he　doesn't　go　to　the
General's　lady　because　he　is　lazy　and　afraid　of　people。　We　belong
to　the　clergy　all　the　same　。　。　。〃　added　Raissa。

〃What　do　you　live　on？〃　asked　the　postman。

〃There's　a　kitchen　garden　and　a　meadow　belonging　to　the　church。
Only　we　don't　get　much　from　that；〃　sighed　Raissa。　〃The　old
skinflint；　Father　Nikodim；　from　the　next　village　celebrates　here
on　St。　Nicolas'　Day　in　the　winter　and　on　St。　Nicolas'　Day　in　the
summer；　and　for　that　he　takes　almost　all　the　crops　for　himself。
There's　no　one　to　stick　up　for　us！〃

〃You　are　lying；〃　Savely　growled　hoarsely。　〃Father　Nikodim　is　a
saintly　soul；　a　luminary　of　the　Church；　and　if　he　does　take　it；
it's　the　regulation！〃

〃You've　a　cross　one！〃　said　the　postman；　with　a　grin。　〃Have　you
been　married　long？〃

〃It　was　three　years　ago　the　last　Sunday　before　Lent。　My　father
was　sexton　here　in　the　old　days；　and　when　the　time　came　for　him
to　die；　he　went　to　the　Consistory　and　asked　them　to　send　some
unmarried　man　to　marry　me　that　I　might　keep　the　place。　So　I
married　him。〃

〃Aha；　so　you　killed　two　birds　with　one　stone！〃　said　the　postman；
looking　at　Savely's　back。　〃Got　wife　and　job　together。〃

Savely　wriggled　his　leg　impatiently　and　moved　closer　to　the　wall。
The　postman　moved　away　from　the　table；　stretched；　and　sat　down　on
the　mail…bag。　After　a　moment's　thought　he　squeezed　the　bags　with
his　hands；　shifted　his　sword　to　the　other　side；　and　lay　down　with
one　foot　touching　the　floor。

〃It's　a　dog's　life；〃　he　muttered；　putting　his　hands　behind　his
head　and　closing　his　eyes。　〃I　wouldn't　wish　a　wild　Tatar　such　a
life。〃

Soon　everything　was　still。　Nothing　was　audible　except　the
sniffing　of　Savely　and　the　slow；　even　breathing　of　the　sleeping
po　stman；　who　uttered　a　deep　prolonged　〃h…h…h〃　at　every　breath。
From　time　to　time　there　was　a　sound　like　a　creaking　wheel　in　his
throat；　and　his　twitching　foot　rustled　against　the　bag。

Savely　fidgeted　under　the　quilt　and　looked　round　slowly。　His　wife
was　sitting　on　the　stool；　and　with　her　hands　pressed　against　her
cheeks　was　gazing　at　the　postman's　face。　Her　face　was　immovable；
like　the　face　of　some　one　frightened　and　astonished。

〃Well；　what　are　you　gaping　at？〃　Savely　whispered　angrily。

〃What　is　it　to　you？　Lie　down！〃　answered　his　wife　without　taking
her　eyes　off　the　flaxen　head。

Savely　angrily　puffed　all　the　air　out　of　his　chest　and　turned
abruptly　to　the　wall。　Three　minutes　later　he　turned　over
restlessly　again；　knelt　up　on　the　bed；　and　with　his　hands　on　the
pillow　looked　askance　at　his　wife。　She　was　still　sitting
motionless；　staring　at　the　visitor。　Her　cheeks　were　pale　and　her
eyes　were　glowing　with　a　strange　fire。　The　sexton　cleared　his
throat；　crawled　on　his　stomach　off　the　bed；　and　going　up　to　the
postman；　put　a　handkerchief　over　his　face。

〃What's　that　for？〃　asked　his　wife。

〃To　keep　the　light　out　of　his　eyes。〃

〃Then　put　out　the　light！〃

Savely　looked　distrustfully　at　his　wife；　put　out　his　lips　towards
the　lamp；　but　at　once　thought　better　of　it　and　clasped　his　hands。

〃Isn't　that　devilish　cunning？〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Ah！　Is　there　any
creature　slyer　than　womenkind？〃

〃Ah；　you　long…skirted　devil！〃　hissed　his　wife；　frowning　with
vexation。　〃You　wait　a　bit！〃

And　settling　herself　more　comfortably；　she　stared　at　the　postman
again。

It　did　not　matter　to　her　that　his　face　was　covered。　She　was　not
so　much　interested　in　his　face　as　in　his　whole　appearance；　in　the
novelty　of　this　man。　His　chest　was　broad　and　powerful；　his　hands
were　slender　and　well　formed；　and　his　graceful；　muscular　legs
were　mu