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小说: the witch and other stories 字数: 每页4000字

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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

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