the witch and other stories-第3节

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were　slender　and　well　formed；　and　his　graceful；　muscular　legs
were　much　comelier　than　Savely's　stumps。　There　could　be　no
comparison；　in　fact。

〃Though　I　am　a　long…skirted　devil；〃　Savely　said　after　a　brief
interval；　〃they've　no　business　to　sleep　here。　。　。　。　It's
government　work；　we　shall　have　to　answer　for　keeping　them。　If　you
carry　the　letters；　carry　them；　you　can't　go　to　sleep。　。　。　。　Hey！
you！〃　Savely　shouted　into　the　outer　room。　〃You；　driver。　What's
your　name？　Shall　I　show　you　the　way？　Get　up；　postmen　mustn't
sleep！〃

And　Savely；　thoroughly　roused；　ran　up　to　the　postman　and　tugged
him　by　the　sleeve。

〃Hey；　your　honour；　if　you　must　go；　go；　and　if　you　don't；　it's　not
the　thing。　。　。　。　Sleeping　won't　do。〃

The　postman　jumped　up；　sat　down；　looked　with　blank　eyes　round　the
hut；　and　lay　down　again。

〃But　when　are　you　going？〃　Savely　pattered　away。　〃That's　what　the
post　is　for　　to　get　there　in　good　time；　do　you　hear？　I'll　take
you。〃

The　postman　opened　his　eyes。　Warmed　and　relaxed　by　his　first
sweet　sleep；　and　not　yet　quite　awake；　he　saw　as　through　a　mist
the　white　neck　and　the　immovable；　alluring　eyes　of　the　sexton's
wife。　He　closed　his　eyes　and　smiled　as　though　he　had　been
dreaming　it　all。

〃Come；　how　can　you　go　in　such　weather！〃　he　heard　a　soft　feminine
voice；　〃you　ought　to　have　a　sound　sleep　and　it　would　do　you
good！〃

〃And　what　about　the　post？〃　said　Savely　anxiously。　〃Who's　going　to
take　the　post？　Are　you　going　to　take　it；　pray；　you？

The　postman　opened　his　eyes　again；　looked　at　the　play　of　the
dimples　on　Raissa's　face；　remembered　where　he　was；　and　understood
Savely。　The　thought　that　he　had　to　go　out　into　the　cold　darkness
sent　a　chill　shudder　all　down　him；　and　he　winced。

〃I　might　sleep　another　five　minutes；〃　he　said；　yawning。　〃I　shall
be　late；　anyway。　。　。　。〃

〃We　might　be　just　in　time；〃　came　a　voice　from　the　outer　room。
〃All　days　are　not　alike；　the　train　may　be　late　for　a　bit　of
luck。〃

The　postman　got　up；　and　stretching　lazily　began　putting　on　his
coat。

Savely　positively　neighed　with　delight　when　he　saw　his　visitors
were　getting　ready　to　go。

〃Give　us　a　hand；〃　the　driver　shouted　to　him　as　he　lifted　up　a
mail…bag。

The　sexton　ran　out　and　helped　him　drag　the　post…bags　into　the
yard。　The　postman　began　undoing　the　knot　in　his　hood。　The
sexton's　wife　gazed　into　his　eyes；　and　seemed　trying　to　look
right　into　his　soul。

〃You　ought　to　have　a　cup　of　tea　。　。　。〃　she　said。

〃I　wouldn't　say　no　。　。　。　but；　you　see；　they're　getting　ready；〃　he
assented。　〃We　are　late；　anyway。〃

〃Do　stay；〃　she　whispered；　dropping　her　eyes　and　touching　him　by
the　sleeve。

The　postman　got　the　knot　undone　at　last　and　flung　the　hood　over
his　elbow；　hesitating。　He　felt　it　comfortable　standing　by　Raissa。

〃What　a　。　。　。　neck　you've　got！　。　。　。〃　And　he　touched　her　neck
with　two　fingers。　Seeing　that　she　did　not　resist；　he　stroked　her
neck　and　shoulders。

〃I　say；　you　are　。　。　。〃

〃You'd　better　stay　。　。　。　have　some　tea。〃

〃Where　are　you　putting　it？〃　The　driver's　voice　could　be　heard
outside。　〃Lay　it　crossways。〃

〃You'd　better　stay。　。　。　。　Hark　how　the　wind　howls。〃

And　the　postman；　not　yet　quite　awake；　not　yet　quite　able　to　shake
off　the　intoxicating　sleep　of　youth　and　fatigue；　was　suddenly
overwhelmed　by　a　desire　for　the　sake　of　which　mail…bags；　postal
trains　。　。　。　and　all　things　in　the　world；　are　forgotten。　He
glanced　at　the　door　in　a　frightened　way；　as　though　he　wanted　to
escape　or　hide　himself；　seized　Raissa　round　the　waist；　and　was
just　bending　over　the　lamp　to　put　out　the　light；　when　he　heard
the　tramp　of　boots　in　the　outer　room；　and　the　driver　appeared　in
the　doorway。　Savely　peeped　in　over　his　shoulder。　The　postman
dropped　his　hands　quickly　and　stood　still　as　though　irresolute。

〃It's　all　ready；〃　said　the　driver。　The　postman　stood　still　for　a
moment；　resolutely　threw　up　his　head　as　though　waking　up
completely；　and　followed　the　driver　out。　Raissa　was　left　alone。

〃Come；　get　in　and　show　us　the　way！〃　she　heard。

One　bell　sounded　languidly；　then　another；　and　the　jingling　notes
in　a　long　delicate　chain　floated　away　from　the　hut。

When　little　by　little　they　had　died　away；　Raissa　got　up　and
nervously　paced　to　and　fro。　At　first　she　was　pale；　then　she
flushed　all　over。　Her　face　was　contorted　with　hate；　her　breathing
was　tremulous；　her　eyes　gleamed　with　wild；　savage　anger；　and；
pacing　up　and　down　as　in　a　cage；　she　looked　like　a　tigress
menaced　with　red…hot　iron。　For　a　moment　she　stood　still　and
looked　at　her　abode。　Almost　half　of　the　room　was　filled　up　by　the
bed；　which　stretched　the　length　of　the　whole　wall　and　consisted
of　a　dirty　feather…bed；　coarse　grey　pillows；　a　quilt；　and
nameless　rags　of　various　sorts。　The　bed　was　a　shapeless　ugly　mass
which　suggested　the　shock　of　hair　that　always　stood　up　on
Savely's　head　whenever　it　occurred　to　him　to　oil　it。　From　the　bed
to　the　door　that　led　into　the　cold　outer　room　stretched　the　dark
stove　surrounded　by　pots　and　hanging　clouts。　Everything；
including　the　absent　Savely　himself；　was　dirty；　greasy；　and
smutty　to　the　last　degree；　so　that　it　was　strange　to　see　a
woman's　white　neck　and　delicate　skin　in　such　surroundings。

Raissa　ran　up　to　the　bed；　stretched　out　her　hands　as　though　she
wanted　to　fling　it　all　about；　stamp　it　underfoot；　and　tear　it　to
shreds。　But　then；　as　though　frightened　by　contact　with　the　dirt；
she　leapt　back　and　began　pacing　up　and　down　again。

When　Savely　returned　two　hours　later；　worn　out　and　covered　with
snow；　she　was　undressed　and　in　bed。　Her　eyes　were　closed；　but
from　the　slight　tremor　that　ran　over　her　face　he　guessed　that　she
was　not　asleep。　On　his　way　home　he　had　vowed　inwardly　to　wait
till　next　day　and　not　to　touch　her；　but　he　could　not　resist　a
biting　taunt　at　her。

〃Your　witchery　was　all　in　vain：　he's　gone　off；〃　he　said；　grinning
with　malignant　joy。

His　wife　remained　mute；　but　her　chin　quivered。　Savely　undressed
slowly；　clambered　over　his　wife；　and　lay　down　next　to　the　wall。

〃To…morrow　I'll　let　Father　Nikodim　know　what　sort　of　wife　you
are！〃　he　muttered；　curling　himself　up。

Raissa　turned　her　face　to　him　and　her　eyes　gleamed。

〃The　job's　enough　for　you；　and　you　can　look　for　a　wife　in　the
forest；　blast　you！〃　she　said。　〃I　am　no　wife　for　you；　a　clumsy
lout；　a　slug…a…bed；　God　forgive　me！〃

〃Come；　come　。　。　。　go　to　sleep！〃

〃How　miserable　I　am！〃　sobbed　his　wife。　〃If　it　weren't　for　you；　I
might　have　married　a　merchant　or　some　gentleman！　If　it　weren't
for　you；　I　should　love　my　husband　now！　And　you　haven't　been
buried　in　the　snow；　you　haven't　been　frozen　on　the　highroad；　you
Herod！〃

Raissa　cried　for　a　long　time。　At　last　she　drew　a　deep　sigh　and
was　still。　The　storm　still　raged　without。　Something　wailed　in　the
stove；　in　the　chimney；　outside　the　walls；　and　it　seemed　to　Savely
that　the　wailing　was　within　him；　in　his　ears。　This　evening　had
completely　confirmed　him　in　his　suspicions　about　his　wife。　He　no
longer　doubted　that　his　wife；　with　the　aid　of　the　Evil　One；
controlled　the　winds　and　the　post　sledges。　But　to　add　to　his
grief；　this　mysteriousness；　this　supernatural；　weird　power　gave
the　woman　beside　him　a　peculiar；　incomprehensible　charm　of　which
he　had　not　been　conscious　before。　The　fact　that　in　his　stupidity
he　unconsciously　threw　a　poetic　glamour　over　her　made　her　seem；
as　it　were；　whiter；　sleeker；　more　unapproachable。

〃Witch！〃　he　muttered　indignantly。　〃Tfoo；　horrid　creature！〃

Yet；　waiting　till　she　was　quiet　and　began　breathing　evenly；　he
touched　her　head　with　his　finger　。　。　。　held　her　thick　plait　in
his　hand　for　a　minute。　She　did　not　feel　it。　Then　he　grew　bolder
and　stroked　her　neck。

〃Leave　off！〃　she　shouted；　and　prodded　him　on　the　nose　with　her
elbow　with　such　violence　that　he　saw　stars　before　his　eyes。

The　pain　in　his　nose　was　soon　over；　but　the　torture　in　his　heart
remained。


PEASANT　WIVES

IN　the　village　of　Reybuzh；　just　facing　the　church；　stands　a
two…storeyed　house　with　a　stone　foundation　and　an　iron　roof。　In
the　lower　storey　the　owner　himself；　Filip　Ivanov　Kashin；
nicknamed　Dyudya；　lives　with　his　family；　and　on　the　upper　floor；
where　it　is　apt　to　be　very　hot　in　summer　and　very　cold　in　winter；
they　put　up　government　officials；　merchants；　or　landowners；　who
chance　to　be　travelling　that　way。　Dyudya　rents　some　bits　of　land；
keeps　a　tavern　on　the　highroad；　does　a　trade　in　tar；　honey；
cattle；　and　jackdaws；　and　has　already　something　like　eight
thousand　roubles　put　by　in　the　bank　in　the　town。

His　elder　son；　Fyodor；　is　head　engineer　in　the　factory；　and；　as
the　peasants　say　of　him；　he　has　risen　so　high　in　the　world　that
he　is　quite　out　of　reach　now。　Fyodor's　wife；　Sofya；　a　plain；
ailing　woman；　lives　at　home　at　her　father…in…law's。　She　is　for
ever　crying；　and　every　Sunday　she　goes　over　to　the　hospital　for
medicine。　Dyudya's　second　son；　the　hunchback　Alyoshka；　is　living
at　home　at　his　father's。　He　has　only　lately　been　married　to
Varvara；　whom　they　singled　out　for　him　from　a　poor　family。　She　is
a　handsome　young　woman；　smart　and　buxom。　When　officials　or
merchants　put　up　at　the　house；　they　always　insist　on　having
Varvara　to　bring　in　the　samovar　and　make　their　beds。

One　June　evening　when　the　sun　was　setting　and　the　ai