the witch and other stories-第6节

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〃When　they　were　taking　her　away　to　the　chief　town　of　our
province；　I　walked　by　the　escort　as　far　as　the　station　and
slipped　a　rouble　into　her　bundle　for　my　soul's　salvation。　But　she
did　not　get　as　far　as　Siberia。　。　。　。　She　fell　sick　of　fever　and
died　in　prison。〃

〃Live　like　a　dog　and　you　must　die　a　dog's　death；〃　said　Dyudya。

〃Kuzka　was　sent　back　home。　。　。　。　I　thought　it　over　and　took　him
to　bring　up。　After　all　　though　a　convict's　child　　still　he
was　a　living　soul；　a　Christian。　。　。　。　I　was　sorry　for　him。　I
shall　make　him　my　clerk；　and　if　I　have　no　children　of　my　own；
I'll　make　a　merchant　of　him。　Wherever　I　go　now；　I　take　him　with
me；　let　him　learn　his　work。〃

All　the　while　Matvey　Savitch　had　been　telling　his　story；　Kuzka
had　sat　on　a　little　stone　near　the　gate。　His　head　propped　in　both
hands；　he　gazed　at　the　sky；　and　in　the　distance　he　looked　in　the
dark　like　a　stump　of　wood。

〃Kuzka；　come　to　bed；〃　Matvey　Savitch　bawled　to　him。

〃Yes；　it's　time；〃　said　Dyudya；　getting　up；　he　yawned　loudly　and
added：

〃Folks　will　go　their　own　way；　and　that's　what　comes　of　it。〃

Over　the　yard　the　moon　was　floating　now　in　the　heavens；　she　was
moving　one　way；　while　the　clouds　beneath　moved　the　other　way；　the
clouds　were　disappearing　into　the　darkness；　but　still　the　moon
could　be　seen　high　above　the　yard。

Matvey　Savitch　said　a　prayer；　facing　the　church；　and　saying
good…night；　he　lay　down　on　the　ground　near　his　cart。　Kuzka；　too；
said　a　prayer；　lay　down　in　the　cart；　and　covered　himself　with　his
little　overcoat；　he　made　himself　a　little　hole　in　the　hay　so　as
to　be　more　comfortable；　and　curled　up　so　that　his　elbows　looked
like　knees。　From　the　yard　Dyudya　could　be　seen　lighting　a　candle
in　his　room　below；　putting　on　his　spectacles　and　standing　in　the
corner　with　a　book。　He　was　a　long　while　reading　and　crossing
himself。

The　travellers　fell　asleep。　Afanasyevna　and　Sofya　came　up　to　the
cart　and　began　looking　at　Kuzka。

〃The　little　orphan's　asleep；〃　said　the　old　woman。　〃He's　thin　and
frail；　nothing　but　bones。　No　mother　and　no　one　to　care　for　him
properly。〃

〃My　Grishutka　must　be　two　years　older；〃　said　Sofya。　〃Up　at　the
factory　he　lives　like　a　slave　without　his　mother。　The　foreman
beats　him；　I　dare　say。　When　I　looked　at　this　poor　mite　just　now；
I　thought　of　my　own　Grishutka；　and　my　heart　went　cold　within　me。〃

A　minute　passed　in　silence。

〃Doesn't　remember　his　mother；　I　suppose；〃　said　the　old　woman。

〃How　could　he　remember？〃

And　big　tears　began　dropping　from　Sofya's　eyes。

〃He's　curled　himself　up　like　a　cat；〃　she　said；　sobbing　and
laughing　with　tenderness　and　sorrow。　。　。　。　〃Poor　motherless　mite！

Kuzka　started　and　opened　his　eyes。　He　saw　before　him　an　ugly；
wrinkled；　tear…stained　face；　and　beside　it　another；　aged　and
toothless；　with　a　sharp　chin　and　hooked　nose；　and　high　above　them
the　infinite　sky　with　the　flying　clouds　and　the　moon。　He　cried
out　in　fright；　and　Sofya；　too；　uttered　a　cry；　both　were　answered
by　the　echo；　and　a　faint　stir　passed　over　the　stifling　air；　a
watchman　tapped　somewhere　near；　a　dog　barked。　Matvey　Savitch
muttered　something　in　his　sleep　and　turned　over　on　the　other
side。

Late　at　night　when　Dyudya　and　the　old　woman　and　the　neighbouring
watchman　were　all　asleep；　Sofya　went　out　to　the　gate　and　sat　down
on　the　bench。　She　felt　stifled　and　her　head　ached　from　weeping。
The　street　was　a　wide　and　long　one；　it　stretched　for　nearly　two
miles　to　the　right　and　as　far　to　the　left；　and　the　end　of　it　was
out　of　sight。　The　moon　was　now　not　over　the　yard；　but　behind　the
church。　One　side　of　the　street　was　flooded　with　moonlight；　while
the　other　side　lay　in　black　shadow。　The　long　shadows　of　the
poplars　and　the　starling…cotes　stretched　right　across　the　street；
while　the　church　cast　a　broad　shadow；　black　and　terrible　that
enfolded　Dyudya's　gates　and　half　his　house。　The　street　was　still
and　deserted。　From　time　to　time　the　strains　of　mu　sic　floated
faintly　from　the　end　of　the　street　　Alyoshka；　most　likely；
playing　his　concertina。

Someone　moved　in　the　shadow　near　the　church　enclosure；　and　Sofya
could　not　make　out　whether　it　were　a　man　or　a　cow；　or　perhaps
merely　a　big　bird　rustling　in　the　trees。　But　then　a　figure
stepped　out　of　the　shadow；　halted；　and　said　something　in　a　man's
voice；　then　vanished　down　the　turning　by　the　church。　A　little
later；　not　three　yards　from　the　gate；　another　figure　came　into
sight；　it　walked　straight　from　the　church　to　the　gate　and　stopped
short；　seeing　Sofya　on　the　bench。

〃Varvara；　is　that　you？〃　said　Sofya。

〃And　if　it　were？〃

It　was　Varvara。　She　stood　still　a　minute；　then　came　up　to　the
bench　and　sat　down。

〃Where　have　you　been？〃　asked　Sofya。

Varvara　made　no　answer。

〃You'd　better　mind　you　don't　get　into　trouble　with　such
goings…on；　my　girl；〃　said　Sofya。　〃Did　you　hear　how　Mashenka　was
kicked　and　lashed　with　the　reins？　You'd　better　look　out；　or
they'll　treat　you　the　same。〃

〃Well；　let　them！〃

Varvara　laughed　into　her　kerchief　and　whispered：

〃I　have　just　been　with　the　priest's　son。〃

〃Nonsense！〃

〃I　have！〃

〃It's　a　sin！〃　whispered　Sofya。

〃Well；　let　it　be。　。　。　。　What　do　I　care？　If　it's　a　sin；　then　it　is
a　sin；　but　better　be　struck　dead　by　thunder　than　live　like　this。
I'm　young　and　strong；　and　I've　a　filthy　crooked　hunchback　for　a
husband；　worse　than　Dyudya　himself；　curse　him！　When　I　was　a　girl；
I　hadn't　bread　to　eat；　or　a　shoe　to　my　foot；　and　to　get　away　from
that　wretchedness　I　was　tempted　by　Alyoshka's　money；　and　got
caught　like　a　fish　in　a　net；　and　I'd　rather　have　a　viper　for　my
bedfellow　than　that　scurvy　Alyoshka。　And　what's　your　life？　It
makes　me　sick　to　look　at　it。　Your　Fyodor　sent　you　packing　from
the　factory　and　he's　taken　up　with　another　woman。　They　have
robbed　you　of　your　boy　and　made　a　slave　of　him。　You　work　like　a
horse；　and　never　hear　a　kind　word。　I'd　rather　pine　all　my　days　an
old　maid；　I'd　rather　get　half　a　rouble　from　the　priest's　son；　I'd
rather　beg　my　bread；　or　throw　myself　into　the　well。　。　。

〃It's　a　sin！〃　whispered　Sofya　again。

〃Well；　let　it　be。〃

Somewhere　behind　the　church　the　same　three　voices；　two　tenors　and
a　bass；　began　singing　again　a　mournful　song。　And　again　the　words
could　not　be　distinguished。

〃They　are　not　early　to　bed；〃　Varvara　said；　laughing。

And　she　began　telling　in　a　whisper　of　her　midnight　walks　with　the
priest's　son；　and　of　the　stories　he　had　told　her；　and　of　his
comrades；　and　of　the　fun　she　had　with　the　travellers　who　stayed
in　the　house。　The　mournful　song　stirred　a　longing　for　life　and
freedom。　Sofya　began　to　laugh；　she　thought　it　sinful　and　terrible
and　sweet　to　hear　about；　and　she　felt　envious　and　sorry　that　she；
too；　had　not　been　a　sinner　when　she　was　young　and　pretty。

In　the　churchyard　they　heard　twelve　strokes　beaten　on　the
watchman's　board。

〃It's　time　we　were　asleep；〃　said　Sofya；　getting　up；　〃or；　maybe；
we　shall　catch　it　from　Dyudya。〃

They　both　went　softly　into　the　yard。

〃I　went　away　without　hearing　what　he　was　telling　about　Mashenka；〃
said　Varvara；　making　herself　a　bed　under　the　window。

〃She　died　in　prison；　he　said。　She　poisoned　her　husband。〃

Varvara　lay　down　beside　Sofya　a　while；　and　said　softly：

〃I'd　make　away　with　my　Alyoshka　and　never　regret　it。〃

〃You　talk　nonsense；　God　forgive　you。〃

When　Sofya　was　just　dropping　asleep；　Varvara；　coming　close；
whispered　in　her　ear：

〃Let　us　get　rid　of　Dyudya　and　Alyoshka！〃

Sofya　started　and　said　nothing。　Then　she　opened　her　eyes　and
gazed　a　long　while　steadily　at　the　sky。

〃People　would　find　out；〃　she　said。

〃No；　they　wouldn't。　Dyudya's　an　old　man；　it's　time　he　did　die；
and　they'd　say　Alyoshka　died　of　drink。〃

〃I'm　afraid　。　。　。　God　would　chastise　us。〃

〃Well；　let　Him。　。　。　。〃

Both　lay　awake　thinking　in　silence。

〃It's　cold；〃　said　Sofya；　beginning　to　shiver　all　over。　〃It　will
soon　be　morning。　。　。　。　Are　you　asleep？〃

〃No。　。　。　。　Don't　you　mind　what　I　say；　dear；〃　whispered　Varvara；
〃I　get　so　mad　with　the　damned　brutes；　I　don't　know　what　I　do　say。
Go　to　sleep；　or　it　will　be　daylight　directly。　。　。　。　Go　to　sleep。〃

Both　were　quiet　and　soon　they　fell　asleep。

Earlier　than　all　woke　the　old　woman。　She　waked　up　Sofya　and　they
went　together　into　the　cowshed　to　milk　the　cows。　The　hunchback
Alyoshka　came　in　hopelessly　drunk　without　his　concertina；　his
breast　and　knees　had　been　in　the　dust　and　straw　　he　must　have
fallen　down　in　the　road。　Staggering；　he　went　into　the　cowshed；
and　without　undressing　he　rolled　into　a　sledge　and　began　to　snore
at　once。　When　first　the　crosses　on　the　church　and　then　the
windows　were　flashing　in　the　light　of　the　rising　sun；　and　shadows
stretched　across　the　yard　over　the　dewy　grass　from　the　trees　and
the　top　of　the　well；　Matvey　Savitch　jumped　up　and　began　hurrying
about：

〃Kuzka！　get　up！〃　he　shouted。　〃It's　time　to　put　in　the　horses！
Look　sharp！〃

The　bustle　of　morning　was　beginning。　A　young　Jewess　in　a　brown
gown　with　flounces　led　a　horse　into　the　yard　to　drink。　The　pulley
of　the　well　creaked　plaintively；　the　bucket　knocked　as　it　went
down。　。　。　。

Kuzka；　sleepy；　tired；　covered　with　dew；　sat　up　in　the　cart；
lazily　putting　on　his　little　overcoat；　and　listening　to　the　drip
of　the　water　from　the　bucket　into　the　w