the witch and other stories(女巫)-第48节
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big dark eyes； with a red ribbon in her hair； looked funny； as though she
were some little wild creature that had been caught and brought into the
hut。
〃She can read； too；〃 Olga said in her praise； looking tenderly at her
daughter。 〃Read a little； child！〃 she said； taking the gospel from the corner。
〃You read； and the good Christian people will listen。〃
The testament was an old and heavy one in leather binding； with dog's…
eared edges； and it exhaled a smell as though monks had come into the hut。
Sasha raised her eyebrows and began in a loud rhythmic chant：
〃 'And the angel of the Lord 。 。 。 appeared unto Joseph； saying unto
him： Rise up； and take the Babe and His mother。' 〃
〃The Babe and His mother；〃 Olga repeated； and flushed all over with
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emotion。
〃 'And flee into Egypt； 。 。 。 and tarry there until such time as 。 。 。' 〃
At the word 〃tarry〃 Olga could not refrain from tears。 Looking at her；
Marya began to whimper； and after her Ivan Makaritch's sister。 The old
father cleared his throat； and bustled about to find something to give his
grand…daughter； but； finding nothing； gave it up with a wave of his hand。
And when the reading was over the neighbours dispersed to their homes；
feeling touched and very much pleased with Olga and Sasha。
As it was a holiday； the family spent the whole day at home。 The old
woman； whom her husband； her daughters…in…law； her grandchildren all
alike called Granny； tried to do everything herself； she heated the stove
and set the samovar with her own hands； even waited at the midday meal；
and then complained that she was worn out with work。 And all the time
she was uneasy for fear someone should eat a piece too much； or that her
husband and daughters…in…law would sit idle。 At one time she would hear
the tavern…keeper's geese going at the back of the huts to her kitchen…
garden； and she would run out of the hut with a long stick and spend half
an hour screaming shrilly by her cabbages； which were as gaunt and
scraggy as herself； at another time she fancied that a crow had designs on
her chickens； and she rushed to attack it wi th loud words of abuse。 She
was cross and grumbling from morning till night。 And often she raised
such an outcry that passers…by stopped in the street。
She was not affectionate towards the old man； reviling him as a lazy…
bones and a plague。 He was not a responsible； reliable peasant； and
perhaps if she had not been continually nagging at him he would not have
worked at all； but would have simply sat on the stove and talked。 He
talked to his son at great length about certain enemies of his； complained
of the insults he said he had to put up with every day from the neighbours；
and it was tedious to listen to him。
〃Yes；〃 he would say； standing with his arms akimbo； 〃yes。 。 。 。 A week
after the Exaltation of the Cross I sold my hay willingly at thirty kopecks a
pood。 。 。 。 Well and good。 。 。 。 So you see I was taking the hay in the
morning with a good will； I was interfering with no one。 In an unlucky
hour I see the village elder； Antip Syedelnikov； coming out of the tavern。
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'Where are you taking it； you ruffian？' says he； and takes me by the ear。〃
Kiryak had a fearful headache after his drinking bout； and was
ashamed to face his brother。
〃What vodka does！ Ah； my God！〃 he muttered； shaking his aching
head。 〃For Christ's sake； forgive me； brother and sister； I'm not happy
myself。〃
As it was a holiday； they bought a herring at the tavern and made a
soup of the herring's head。 At midday they all sat down to drink tea； and
went on drinking it for a long time； till they were all perspiring； they
looked positively swollen from the tea…drinking； and after it began sipping
the broth from the herring's head； all helping themselves out of one bowl。
But the herring itself Granny had hidden。
In the evening a potter began firing pots on the ravine。 In the meadow
below the girls got up a choral dance and sang songs。 They played the
concertina。 And on the other side of the river a kiln for baking pots was
lighted； too； and the girls sang songs； and in the distance the singing
sounded soft and musical。 The peasants were noisy in and about the tavern。
They were singing with drunken voices； each on his own account； and
swearing at one another； so that Olga could only shudder and say：
〃Oh； holy Saints！〃
She was amazed that the abuse was incessant； and those who were
loudest and most persistent in this foul language were the old men who
were so near their end。 And the girls and children heard the swearing； and
were not in the least disturbed by it； and it was evident that they were used
to it from their cradles。
It was past midnight； the kilns on both sides of the river were put out；
but in the meadow below and in the tavern the merrymaking still went on。
The old father and Kiryak； both drunk； walking arm…in…arm and jostling
against each other's shoulders； went to the barn where Olga and Marya
were lying。
〃Let her alone；〃 the old man persuaded him； 〃let her alone。 。 。 。 She is a
harmless woman。 。 。 。 It's a sin。 。 。 。〃
〃Ma…arya！ 〃 shouted Kiryak。
〃Let her be。 。 。 。 It's a sin。 。 。 。 She is not a bad woman。〃
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Both stopped by the barn and went on。
〃I lo…ove the flowers of the fi…ield；〃 the old man began singing
suddenly in a high； piercing tenor。 〃I lo…ove to gather them in the
meadows！〃
Then he spat； and with a filthy oath went into the hut。
IV
Granny put Sasha by her kitchen…garden and told her to keep watch
that the geese did not go in。 It was a hot August day。 The tavernkeeper's
geese could make their way into the kitchen…garden by the backs of the
huts； but now they were busily engaged picking up oats by the tavern；
peacefully conversing together； and only the gander craned his head high
as though trying to see whether the old woman were coming with her stick。
The other geese might come up from below； but they were now grazing far
away the other side of the river； stretched out in a long white garland about
the meadow。 Sasha stood about a little； grew weary； and； seeing that the
geese were not coming； went away to the ravine。
There she saw Marya's eldest daughter Motka； who was standing
motionless on a big stone； staring at the church。 Marya had given birth to
thirteen children； but she only had six living； all girls； not one boy； and the
eldest was eight。 Motka in a long smock was standing barefooted in the
full sunshine； the sun was blazing down right on her head； but she did not
notice that； and seemed as though turned to stone。 Sasha stood beside her
and said； looking at the church：
〃God lives in the church。 Men have lamps and candles； but God has
little green and red and blue lamps like little eyes。 At night God walks
about the church； and with Him the Holy Mother of God and Saint
Nikolay； thud； thud； thud！ 。 。 。 And the watchman is terrified； terrified！ Aye；
aye； dearie；〃 she added； imitating her mother。 〃And when the end of the
world comes all the churches will be carried up to heaven。〃
〃With the…ir be…ells？〃 Motka asked in her deep voice； drawling every
syllable。
〃With their bells。 And when the end of the world comes the good will
go to Paradise； but the angry will burn in fire eternal and unquenchable；
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dearie。 To my mother as well as to Marya God will say： 'You never
offended anyone； and for that go to the right to Paradise'； but to Kiryak
and Granny He will say： 'You go to the le
