the witch and other stories(女巫)-第8节
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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 well as he shivered with the cold。
〃Auntie！〃 shouted Matvey Savitch to Sofya； 〃tell my lad to hurry up
and to harness the horses！〃
And Dyudya at the same instant shouted from the window：
〃Sofya； take a farthing from the Jewess for the horse's drink！ They're
always in here； the mangy creatures！
In the street sheep were running up and down； baaing； the peasant
women were shouting at the shepherd； while he played his pipes； cracked
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
his whip； or answered them in a thick sleepy bass。 Three sheep strayed
into the yard； and not finding the gate again； pushed at the fence。
Varvara was waked by the noise； and bundling her bedding up in her
arms； she went into the house。
〃You might at least drive the sheep out！〃 the old woman bawled after
her； 〃my lady！〃
〃I dare say！ As if I were going to slave for you Herods！〃 muttered
Varvara； going into the house。
Dyudya came out of the house with his accounts in his hands； sat
down on the step； and began reckoning how much the traveller owed him
for the night's lodging； oats； and watering his horses。
〃You charge pretty heavily for the oats； my good man；〃 said Matvey
Savitch。
〃If it's too much； don't take them。 There's no compulsion； merchant。〃
When the travellers were ready to start； they were detained for a
minute。 Kuzka had lost his cap。
〃Little swine； where did you put it？〃 Matvey Savitch roared angrily。
〃Where is it？〃
Kuzka's face was working with terror； he ran up and down near the
cart； and not finding it there； ran to the gate and then to the shed。 The old
woman and Sofya helped him look。
〃I'll pull your ears off！〃 yelled Matvey Savitch。 〃Dirty brat！〃
The cap was found at the bottom of the cart。
Kuzka brushed the hay off it with his sleeve； put it on； and timidly he
crawled into the cart； still with an expression of terror on his face as
though he were afraid of a blow from behind。
Matvey Savitch crossed himself。 The driver gave a tug at the reins and
the cart rolled out of the yard。
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
THE POST
IT was three o'clock in the night。 The postman； ready to set off； in his
cap and his coat； with a rusty sword in his hand； was standing near the
door； waiting for the driver to finish putting the mail bags into the cart
which had just been brought round with three horses。 The sleepy
postmaster sat at his table； which was like a counter； he was filling up a
form and saying：
〃My nephew； the student； wants to go to the station at once。 So look
here； Ignatyev； let him get into the mail cart and take him with you to the
station： though it is against the regulations to take people with the mail；
what's one to do？ It's better for him to drive with you free than for me to
hire horses for him。〃
〃Ready！〃 they heard a shout from the yard。
〃Well； go then； and God be with you；〃 said the postmaster。 〃Which
driver is going？〃
〃Semyon Glazov。〃
〃Come； sign the receipt。〃
The postman signed the receipt and went out。 At the entrance of the
post…office there was the dark outline of a cart and three hors es。 The
horses were standing still except that one of the tracehorses kept uneasily
shifting from one leg to the other and tossing its head； making the bell
clang from time to time。 The cart with the mail bags looked like a patch of
darkness。 Two silhouettes were moving lazily beside it： the student with a
portmanteau in his hand and a driver。 The latter was smoking a short pipe；
the light of the pipe moved about in the darkness； dying away and flaring
up again； for an instant it lighted up a bit of a sleeve； then a shaggy
moustache and big copper…red nose； then stern…looking； overhanging
eyebrows。 The postman pressed down the mail bags with his hands； laid
his sword on them and jumped into the cart。 The student clambered
irresolutely in after him； and accidentally touching him with his elbow；
said timidly and politely： 〃I beg your pardon。〃
The pipe went out。 The postmaster came out of the post…office just as
he was； in his waistcoat and slippers； shrinking from the night dampness
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
and clearing his throat； he walked beside the cart and said：
〃Well； God speed！ Give my love to your mother； Mihailo。 Give my
love to them all。 And you； Ignatyev； mind you don't forget to give the
parcel to Bystretsov。 。 。 。 Off！〃 The driver took the reins in one hand； blew
his nose； and； arranging the seat under himself； clicked to the horses。
〃Give them my love；〃 the postmaster repeated。
The big bell clanged something to the little bells； the little bells gave it
a friendly answer。 The cart squeaked； moved。 The big bell lamented； the
little bells laughed。 Standing up in his seat the driver lashed the restless
tracehorse twice； and the cart rumbled with a hollow sound along the
dusty road。 The little town was asleep。 Houses and trees stood black on
each side of the broad street； and not a light was to be seen。 Narrow clouds
stretched here and there over the star…spangled sky； and where the dawn
would soon be coming there was a narrow crescent moon； but neither the
stars； of which there were many； nor the half…moon； which looked white；
lighted up the night air。 It was cold and damp； and there was a smell of
autumn。
The student； who thought that politeness required him to talk affably to
a man who had not refused to let him accompany him； began：
〃In summer it would be light at this time； but now there is not even a
sign of the dawn。 Summer is over！〃
The student looked at the sky and went on：
〃Even from the sky one can see that it is autumn。 Look to the right。 Do
you see three stars side by side in a straight line？ That is the constellation
of Orion； which； in our hemisphere； only becomes visible in September。〃
The postman； thrusting his hands into his sleeves and retreating up to
his ears into his coat collar； did not stir and did not glance at the sky。
Apparently the constellation of Orion did not interest him。 He was
accustomed to see the stars； and probably he had long grown weary of
them。 The student paused for a while and then said：
〃It's cold！ It's ti
