Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > the witch and other stories(Å®Î×) >

µÚ31½Ú

the witch and other stories(Å®Î×)-µÚ31½Ú

С˵£º the witch and other stories(Å®Î×) ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




drinking¡¡tea¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡making¡¡Varvara¡¡a¡¡brown¡¡dress¡¡with¡¡black¡¡lace¡¡and¡¡

bugles¡¡on¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡Aksinya¡¡a¡¡light¡¡green¡¡dress¡¡with¡¡a¡¡yellow¡¡front£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡

train¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡dressmakers¡¡had¡¡finished¡¡their¡¡work¡¡Tsybukin¡¡paid¡¡them¡¡

not¡¡in¡¡money¡¡but¡¡in¡¡goods¡¡from¡¡the¡¡shop£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡went¡¡away¡¡depressed£»¡¡

carrying¡¡parcels¡¡of¡¡tallow¡¡candles¡¡and¡¡tins¡¡of¡¡sardines¡¡which¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡

in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡least¡¡¡¡¡¡need£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡got¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡village¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡open¡¡

country¡¡they¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡on¡¡a¡¡hillock¡¡and¡¡cried¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Anisim¡¡¡¡¡¡arrived¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡three¡¡¡¡¡¡days¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡wedding£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡rigged¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡new¡¡

clothes¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡top¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡toe¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡dazzling¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡india¡­rubber¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡goloshes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

instead¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡cravat¡¡¡¡¡¡wore¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡red¡¡¡¡¡¡cord¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡balls¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡

shoulder¡¡he¡¡had¡¡hung¡¡an¡¡overcoat£»¡¡also¡¡new£»¡¡without¡¡putting¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡into¡¡

the¡¡sleeves¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡After¡¡crossing¡¡himself¡¡sedately¡¡before¡¡the¡¡ikon£»¡¡he¡¡greeted¡¡his¡¡father¡¡

and¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡ten¡¡silver¡¡roubles¡¡and¡¡ten¡¡half¡­roubles£»¡¡to¡¡Varvara¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡as¡¡

much£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Aksinya¡¡¡¡¡¡twenty¡¡¡¡¡¡quarter¡­roubles¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡chief¡¡¡¡¡¡charm¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

present¡¡lay¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡all¡¡the¡¡coins£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡carefully¡¡matched£»¡¡were¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡111¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡112¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡WITCH¡¡AND¡¡OTHER¡¡STORIES¡¡



new¡¡and¡¡glittered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sun¡£¡¡Trying¡¡to¡¡seem¡¡grave¡¡and¡¡sedate¡¡he¡¡pursed¡¡up¡¡

his¡¡face¡¡and¡¡puffed¡¡out¡¡his¡¡cheeks£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡smelt¡¡of¡¡spirits¡£¡¡Probably¡¡he¡¡had¡¡

visited¡¡the¡¡refreshment¡¡¡¡¡¡bar¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡every¡¡station¡£¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡free¡­¡¡

and¡­easiness¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡something¡¡¡¡¡¡superfluous¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡place¡£¡¡

Then¡¡¡¡¡¡Anisim¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡lunch¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡drank¡¡¡¡¡¡tea¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡man£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Varvara¡¡

turned¡¡the¡¡new¡¡coins¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡inquired¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡villagers¡¡¡¡who¡¡

had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡live¡¡in¡¡the¡¡town¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨They¡¡are¡¡all¡¡right£»¡¡thank¡¡God£»¡¡they¡¡get¡¡on¡¡quite¡¡well£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Anisim¡£¡¡

¡¨Only¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡something¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡happened¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡Ivan¡¡¡¡¡¡Yegorov£º¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡wife¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Sofya¡¡

Nikiforovna¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡dead¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡consumption¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ordered¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡memorial¡¡

dinner¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡peace¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡soul¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡confectioner's¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡half¡¡

roubles¡¡a¡¡head¡£¡¡And¡¡there¡¡was¡¡real¡¡wine¡£¡¡Those¡¡who¡¡were¡¡peasants¡¡from¡¡

our¡¡¡¡¡¡village¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡paid¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡half¡¡¡¡¡¡roubles¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡ate¡¡

nothing£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡a¡¡peasant¡¡would¡¡understand¡¡sauce£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Two¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡his¡¡father£»¡¡shaking¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡it's¡¡not¡¡like¡¡the¡¡country¡¡there£»¡¡you¡¡go¡¡into¡¡a¡¡restaurant¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡

snack¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡something£»¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡ask¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡thing¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡another£»¡¡¡¡¡¡others¡¡¡¡¡¡join¡¡¡¡¡¡till¡¡

there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡party¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¡one¡¡has¡¡a¡¡drink¡¡¡¡and¡¡before¡¡you¡¡know¡¡where¡¡you¡¡

are¡¡it¡¡is¡¡daylight¡¡and¡¡you've¡¡three¡¡or¡¡four¡¡roubles¡¡each¡¡to¡¡pay¡£¡¡And¡¡when¡¡

one¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡Samorodov¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡likes¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡coffee¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡brandy¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡

everything£»¡¡and¡¡brandy¡¡is¡¡sixty¡¡kopecks¡¡for¡¡a¡¡little¡¡glass¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡he¡¡is¡¡making¡¡it¡¡all¡¡up£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡enthusiastically£»¡¡¡¨he¡¡is¡¡

making¡¡it¡¡all¡¡up£»¡¡lying£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡¡¡always¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡Samorodov¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡Samorodov¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡writes¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡

letters¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡He¡¡writes¡¡splendidly¡£¡¡And¡¡if¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¡¡¡mamma£»¡¨¡¡

Anisim¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡went¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡gaily£»¡¡¡¡¡¡addressing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Varvara£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨the¡¡¡¡¡¡sort¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡fellow¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡

Samorodov¡¡is£»¡¡you¡¡would¡¡not¡¡believe¡¡me¡£¡¡We¡¡call¡¡him¡¡Muhtar£»¡¡because¡¡he¡¡

is¡¡black¡¡like¡¡an¡¡Armenian¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¡see¡¡through¡¡him£»¡¡I¡¡know¡¡all¡¡his¡¡affairs¡¡like¡¡

the¡¡five¡¡fingers¡¡of¡¡my¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡feels¡¡that£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡always¡¡follows¡¡me¡¡

about£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡regular¡¡inseparables¡£¡¡He¡¡seems¡¡not¡¡to¡¡like¡¡it¡¡in¡¡a¡¡way£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡

can't¡¡get¡¡on¡¡without¡¡me¡£¡¡Where¡¡I¡¡go¡¡he¡¡goes¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡correct£»¡¡trustworthy¡¡

eye£»¡¡mamma¡£¡¡One¡¡sees¡¡a¡¡peasant¡¡selling¡¡a¡¡shirt¡¡in¡¡the¡¡market¡¡place¡£¡¡'Stay£»¡¡

that¡¡¡¡¡¡shirt's¡¡¡¡¡¡stolen¡£'¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡really¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡turns¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡so£º¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡shirt¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡stolen¡¡

one¡£¡¨¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡112¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡113¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡WITCH¡¡AND¡¡OTHER¡¡STORIES¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡tell¡¡from£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Varvara¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡from¡¡anything£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡just¡¡an¡¡eye¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡nothing¡¡about¡¡the¡¡

shirt£»¡¡only¡¡for¡¡some¡¡reason¡¡I¡¡seem¡¡drawn¡¡to¡¡it£º¡¡it's¡¡stolen£»¡¡and¡¡that's¡¡all¡¡I¡¡

can¡¡say¡£¡¡Among¡¡¡¡¡¡us¡¡¡¡¡¡detectives¡¡it's¡¡¡¡¡¡come¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡saying£»¡¡¡¡¡¡'Oh£»¡¡Anisim¡¡¡¡has¡¡

gone¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡shoot¡¡¡¡¡¡snipe£¡'¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡¡¡¡¡means¡¡¡¡¡¡looking¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡stolen¡¡¡¡¡¡goods¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Yes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¡¡

Anybody¡¡can¡¡steal£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡is¡¡another¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡keep£¡¡¡The¡¡earth¡¡is¡¡wide£»¡¡but¡¡

there¡¡is¡¡nowhere¡¡to¡¡hide¡¡stolen¡¡goods¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨In¡¡our¡¡village¡¡a¡¡ram¡¡and¡¡two¡¡ewes¡¡were¡¡carried¡¡off¡¡last¡¡week£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡

Varvara£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡heaved¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡sigh£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡try¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡find¡¡

them¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Oh£»¡¡tut£»¡¡tut¡£¡¡¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡I¡¡might¡¡have¡¡a¡¡try¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡mind¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡day¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wedding¡¡arrived¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡cool¡¡but¡¡bright£»¡¡cheerful¡¡April¡¡

day¡£¡¡People¡¡were¡¡driving¡¡about¡¡Ukleevo¡¡from¡¡early¡¡morning¡¡with¡¡pairs¡¡or¡¡

teams¡¡of¡¡three¡¡horses¡¡decked¡¡with¡¡many¡­coloured¡¡ribbons¡¡on¡¡their¡¡yokes¡¡

and¡¡¡¡¡¡manes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡jingle¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡bells¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡rooks£»¡¡¡¡¡¡disturbed¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡activity£»¡¡

were¡¡¡¡¡¡cawing¡¡¡¡¡¡noisily¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡willows£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡starlings¡¡¡¡¡¡sang¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡loudest¡¡

unceasingly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡rejoicing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡wedding¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

Tsybukins'¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Indoors¡¡the¡¡tables¡¡were¡¡already¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡long¡¡fish£»¡¡smoked¡¡hams£»¡¡

stuffed¡¡¡¡¡¡fowls£»¡¡¡¡¡¡boxes¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡sprats£»¡¡¡¡¡¡pickled¡¡¡¡¡¡savouries¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡various¡¡¡¡¡¡sorts£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

number¡¡of¡¡bottles¡¡of¡¡vodka¡¡and¡¡wine£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡smoked¡¡sausage¡¡

and¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡sour¡¡¡¡¡¡tinned¡¡¡¡¡¡lobster¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Old¡¡¡¡¡¡Tsybukin¡¡¡¡¡¡walked¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡near¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡tables£»¡¡

tapping¡¡with¡¡his¡¡heels¡¡and¡¡sharpening¡¡the¡¡knives¡¡against¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡They¡¡

kept¡¡calling¡¡Varvara¡¡and¡¡asking¡¡for¡¡things£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡was¡¡constantly¡¡with¡¡a¡¡

distracted¡¡face¡¡running¡¡breathlessly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡kitchen£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡man¡¡cook¡¡

from¡¡Kostukov's¡¡and¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡cook¡¡from¡¡Hrymin¡¡Juniors'¡¡had¡¡been¡¡at¡¡

work¡¡¡¡¡¡since¡¡¡¡¡¡early¡¡¡¡¡¡morning¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Aksinya£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡hair¡¡¡¡¡¡curled£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡stays¡¡

without¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡dress¡¡¡¡¡¡on£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡new¡¡¡¡¡¡creaky¡¡¡¡¡¡boots£»¡¡¡¡¡¡flew¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡yard¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

whirlwind¡¡showing¡¡glimpses¡¡of¡¡her¡¡bare¡¡knees¡¡and¡¡bosom¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡noisy£»¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡sound¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡scolding¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡oaths£»¡¡¡¡¡¡passers¡­by¡¡

stopped¡¡at¡¡the¡¡wide¡­open¡¡gates£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡everything¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡feeling¡¡that¡¡

something¡¡extraordinary¡¡was¡¡happening¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨They¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡for¡¡the¡¡bride£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡bells¡¡¡¡¡¡began¡¡¡¡¡¡jingling¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡died¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡¡far¡¡¡¡¡¡beyond¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡village¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡113¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡114¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡WITCH¡¡AND¡¡OTHER¡¡STORIES¡¡



Between¡¡two¡¡and¡¡three¡¡o'clock¡¡people¡¡ran¡¡up£º¡¡again¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡jingling¡¡of¡¡

bells£º¡¡they¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡bringing¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡bride£¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡church¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡full£»¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡candelabra¡¡

were¡¡¡¡¡¡lighted£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡choir¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡singing¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡music¡¡¡¡¡¡books¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡Tsybukin¡¡

had¡¡¡¡¡¡wished¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡glare¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lights¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡bright¡¡¡¡¡¡coloured¡¡¡¡¡¡dresses¡¡

dazzled¡¡¡¡¡¡Lipa£»¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡felt¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡singers¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡loud¡¡¡¡¡¡voices¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡

hitting¡¡her¡¡on¡¡the¡¡head¡¡with¡¡a¡¡hammer¡£¡¡Her¡¡boots¡¡and¡¡the¡¡stays£»¡¡which¡¡she¡¡

had¡¡put¡¡on¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡in¡¡her¡¡life£»¡¡pinched¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡face¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡

though¡¡she¡¡had¡¡only¡¡just¡¡come¡¡to¡¡herself¡¡after¡¡fainting£»¡¡she¡¡gazed¡¡about¡¡

without¡¡understanding¡£¡¡Anisim£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡black¡¡coat¡¡with¡¡a¡¡red¡¡cord¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡

a¡¡tie£»¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡spot¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡thought£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡the¡¡singers¡¡shouted¡¡

loudly¡¡he¡¡hurriedly¡¡crossed¡¡himself¡£¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡touched¡¡and¡¡disposed¡¡to¡¡weep¡£¡¡

This¡¡church¡¡was¡¡familiar¡¡to¡¡him¡¡from¡¡earliest¡¡childhood£»¡¡at¡¡one¡¡time¡¡his¡¡

dead¡¡mother¡¡used¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡him¡¡here¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡sacrament£»¡¡at¡¡one¡¡time¡¡he¡¡

used¡¡to¡¡sing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡choir£»¡¡every¡¡ikon¡¡he¡¡remembered¡¡so¡¡well£»¡¡every¡¡corner¡£¡¡

Here¡¡he¡¡was¡¡being¡¡married£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡take¡¡a¡¡wife¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡doing¡¡the¡¡

proper¡¡¡¡¡¡thing£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡thinking¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡now£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡forgotten¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡

wedding¡¡completely¡£¡¡Tears¡¡dimmed¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡so¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡see¡¡the¡¡

ikons£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡felt¡¡¡¡heavy¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡heart£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡prayed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡besought¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡God¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

misfortunes¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡threatened¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡ready¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡burst¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡­¡¡

morrow£»¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡­day£»¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡somehow¡¡¡¡¡¡pass¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡storm¡­clouds¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡

time¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡drought¡¡¡¡¡¡pass¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡village¡¡¡¡without¡¡¡¡¡¡yielding¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡drop¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡rain¡£¡¡

And¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡sins¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡heaped¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡past£»¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡sins£»¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡getting¡¡

away¡¡from¡¡them¡¡or¡¡setting¡¡them¡¡right¡¡was¡¡so¡¡beyond¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡

incongruous¡¡even¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡forgiveness¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡did¡¡ask¡¡forgiveness£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡

gave¡¡a¡¡loud¡¡sob£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡one¡¡took¡¡any¡¡notice¡¡of¡¡that£»¡¡since¡¡they¡¡all¡¡supposed¡¡

he¡¡had¡¡had¡¡a¡¡drop¡¡too¡¡much¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fretful¡¡childish¡¡wail£º¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Take¡¡me¡¡away£»¡¡mamma¡¡darling£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Quiet¡¡there£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡priest¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨1£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ