the witch and other stories-第1章

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The　Witch　and　other　Stories

by　Anton　Chekhov






THE　WITCH
PEASANT　WIVES
THE　POST
THE　NEW　VILLA
DREAMS
THE　PIPE
AGAFYA
AT　CHRISTMAS　TIME
GUSEV
THE　STUDENT
IN　THE　RAVINE
THE　HUNTSMAN
HAPPINESS
A　MALEFACTOR
PEASANTS




THE　WITCH

IT　was　approaching　nightfall。　The　sexton；　Savely　Gykin；　was　lying
in　his　huge　bed　in　the　hut　adjoining　the　church。　He　was　not
asleep；　though　it　was　his　habit　to　go　to　sleep　at　the　same　time
as　the　hens。　His　coarse　red　hair　peeped　from　under　one　end　of　the
greasy　patchwork　quilt；　made　up　of　coloured　rags；　while　his　big
unwashed　feet　stuck　out　from　the　other。　He　was　listening。　His　hut
adjoined　the　wall　that　encircled　the　church　and　the　solitary
window　in　it　looked　out　upon　the　open　country。　And　out　there　a
regular　battle　was　going　on。　It　was　hard　to　say　who　was　being
wiped　off　the　face　of　the　earth；　and　for　the　sake　of　whose
destruction　nature　was　being　churned　up　into　such　a　ferment；　but；
judging　from　the　unceasing　malignant　roar；　someone　was　getting　it
very　hot。　A　victorious　force　was　in　full　chase　over　the　fields；
storming　in　the　forest　and　on　the　church　roof；　battering
spitefully　with　its　fists　upon　the　windows；　raging　and　tearing；
while　something　vanquished　was　howling　and　wailing。　。　。　。　A
plaintive　lament　sobbed　at　the　window；　on　the　roof；　or　in　the
stove。　It　sounded　not　like　a　call　for　help；　but　like　a　cry　of
misery；　a　consciousness　that　it　was　too　late；　that　there　was　no
salvation。　The　snowdrifts　were　covered　with　a　thin　coating　of
ice；　tears　quivered　on　them　and　on　the　trees；　a　dark　slush　of　mud
and　melting　snow　flowed　along　the　roads　and　paths。　In　short；　it
was　thawing；　but　through　the　dark　night　the　heavens　failed　to　see
it；　and　flung　flakes　of　fresh　snow　upon　the　melting　earth　at　a
terrific　rate。　And　the　wind　staggered　like　a　drunkard。　It　would
not　let　the　snow　settle　on　the　ground；　and　whirled　it　round　in
the　darkness　at　random。

Savely　listened　to　all　this　din　and　frowned。　The　fact　was　that　he
knew；　or　at　any　rate　suspected；　what　all　this　racket　outside　the
window　was　tending　to　and　whose　handiwork　it　was。

〃I　know！〃　he　muttered；　shaking　his　finger　menacingly　under　the
bedclothes；　〃I　know　all　about　it。〃

On　a　stool　by　the　window　sat　the　sexton's　wife；　Raissa　Nilovna。　A
tin　lamp　standing　on　another　stool；　as　though　timid　and
distrustful　of　its　powers；　shed　a　dim　and　flickering　light　on　her
broad　shoulders；　on　the　handsome；　tempting…looking　contours　of
her　person；　and　on　her　thick　plait；　which　reached　to　the　floor。
She　was　making　sacks　out　of　coarse　hempen　stuff。　Her　hands　moved
nimbly；　while　her　whole　body；　her　eyes；　her　eyebrows；　her　full
lips；　her　white　neck　were　as　still　as　though　they　were　asleep；
absorbed　in　the　monotonous；　mechanical　toil。　Only　from　time　to
time　she　raised　her　head　to　rest　her　weary　neck；　glanced　for　a
moment　towards　the　window；　beyond　which　the　snowstorm　was　raging；
and　bent　again　over　her　sacking。　No　desire；　no　joy；　no　grief；
nothing　was　expressed　by　her　handsome　face　with　its　turned…up
nose　and　its　dimples。　So　a　beautiful　fountain　expresses　nothing
when　it　is　not　playing。

But　at　last　she　had　finished　a　sack。　She　flung　it　aside；　and；
stretching　luxuriously；　rested　her　motionless；　lack…lustre　eyes
on　the　window。　The　panes　were　swimming　with　drops　like　tears；　and
white　with　short…lived　snowflakes　which　fell　on　the　window；
glanced　at　Raissa；　and　melted。　。　。　。

〃Come　to　bed！〃　growled　the　sexton。　Raissa　remained　mute。　But
suddenly　her　eyelashes　flickered　and　there　was　a　gleam　of
attention　in　her　eye。　Savely；　all　the　time　watching　her
expression　from　under　the　quilt；　put　out　his　head　and　asked：

〃What　is　it？〃

〃Nothing。　。　。　。　I　fancy　someone's　coming；〃　she　answered　quietly。

The　sexton　flung　the　quilt　off　with　his　arms　and　legs；　knelt　up
in　bed；　and　looked　blankly　at　his　wife。　The　timid　light　of　the
lamp　illuminated　his　hirsute；　pock…marked　countenance　and　glided
over　his　rough　matted　hair。

〃Do　you　hear？〃　asked　his　wife。

Through　the　monotonous　roar　of　the　storm　he　caught　a　scarcely
audible　thin　and　jingling　monotone　like　the　shrill　note　of　a　gnat
when　it　wants　to　settle　on　one's　cheek　and　is　angry　at　being
prevented。

〃It's　the　post；〃　muttered　Savely；　squatting　on　his　heels。

Two　miles　from　the　church　ran　the　posting　road。　In　windy　weather；
when　the　wind　was　blowing　from　the　road　to　the　church；　the
inmates　of　the　hut　caught　the　sound　of　bells。

〃Lord！　fancy　people　wanting　to　drive　about　in　such　weather；〃
sighed　Raissa。

〃It's　government　work。　You've　to　go　whether　you　like　or　not。〃

The　murmur　hung　in　the　air　and　died　away。

〃It　has　driven　by；〃　said　Savely；　getting　into　bed。

But　before　he　had　time　to　cover　himself　up　with　the　bedclothes　he
heard　a　distinct　sound　of　the　bell。　The　sexton　looked　anxiously
at　his　wife；　leapt　out　of　bed　and　walked；　waddling；　to　and　fro　by
the　stove。　The　bell　went　on　ringing　for　a　little；　then　died　away
again　as　though　it　had　ceased。

〃I　don't　hear　it；〃　said　the　sexton；　stopping　and　looking　at　his
wife　with　his　eyes　screwed　up。

But　at　that　moment　the　wind　rapped　on　the　window　and　with　it
floated　a　shrill　jingling　note。　Savely　turned　pale；　cleared　his
throat；　and　flopped　about　the　floor　with　his　bare　feet　again。

〃The　postman　is　lost　in　the　storm；〃　he　wheezed　out　glancing
malignantly　at　his　wife。　〃Do　you　hear？　The　postman　has　lost　his
way！　。　。　I　。　。　。　I　know！　Do　you　suppose　I　。　。　don't　understand？　〃
he　muttered。　〃I　know　all　about　it；　curse　you！〃

〃What　do　you　know？〃　Raissa　asked　quietly；　keeping　her　eyes　fixed
on　the　window。

〃I　know　that　it's　all　your　doing；　you　she…devil！　Your　doing；　damn
you！　This　snowstorm　and　the　post　going　wrong；　you've　done　it　all
　you！〃

〃You're　mad；　you　silly；〃　his　wife　answered　calmly。

〃I've　been　watching　you　for　a　long　time　past　and　I've　seen　it。
From　the　first　day　I　married　you　I　noticed　that　you'd　bitch's
blood　in　you！〃

〃Tfoo！〃　said　Raissa；　surprised；　shrugging　her　shoulders　and
crossing　herself。　〃Cross　yourself；　you　fool！〃

〃A　witch　is　a　witch；〃　Savely　pronounced　in　a　hollow；　tearful
voice；　hurriedly　blowing　his　nose　on　the　hem　of　his　shirt；
〃though　you　are　my　wife；　though　you　are　of　a　clerical　family；　I'd
say　what　you　are　even　at　confession。　。　。　。　Why；　God　have　mercy
upon　us！　Last　year　on　the　Eve　of　the　Prophet　Daniel　and　the　Three
Young　Men　there　was　a　snowstorm；　and　what　happened　then？　The
mechanic　came　in　to　warm　himself。　Then　on　St。　Alexey's　Day　the
ice　broke　on　the　river　and　the　district　policeman　turned　up；　and
he　was　chatting　with　you　all　night　。　。　。　the　damned　brute！　And
when　he　came　out　in　the　morning　and　I　looked　at　him；　he　had　rings
under　his　eyes　and　his　cheeks　were　hollow！　Eh？　During　the　August
fast　there　were　two　storms　and　each　time　the　huntsman　turned　up。
I　saw　it　all；　damn　him！　Oh；　she　is　redder　than　a　crab　now；　aha！〃

〃You　didn't　see　anything。〃

〃Didn't　I！　And　this　winter　before　Christmas　on　the　Day　of　the　Ten
Martyrs　of　Crete；　when　the　storm　lasted　for　a　whole　day　and　night
　do　you　remember？　　the　marshal's　clerk　was　lost；　and　turned
up　here；　the　hound。　。　。　。　Tfoo！　To　be　tempted　by　the　clerk！　It
was　worth　upsetting　God's　weather　for　him！　A　drivelling
scribbler；　not　a　foot　from　the　ground；　pimples　all　over　his　mug
and　his　neck　awry！　If　he　were　good…looking；　anyway　　but　he；
tfoo！　he　is　as　ugly　as　Satan！〃

The　sexton　took　breath；　wiped　his　lips　and　listened。　The　bell　was
not　to　be　heard；　but　the　wind　banged　on　the　roof；　and　again　there
came　a　tinkle　in　the　darkness。

〃And　it's　the　same　thing　now！〃　Savely　went　on。　〃It's　not　for
nothing　the　postman　is　lost！　Blast　my　eyes　if　the　postman　isn't
looking　for　you！　Oh；　the　devil　is　a　good　hand　at　his　work；　he　is
a　fine　one　to　help！　He　will　turn　him　round　and　round　and　bring
him　here。　I　know；　I　see！　You　can't　conceal　it；　you　devil's
bauble；　you　heathen　wanton！　As　soon　as　the　storm　began　I　knew
what　you　were　up　to。〃

〃Here's　a　fool！〃　smiled　his　wife。　〃Why；　do　you　suppose；　you
thick…head；　that　I　make　the　storm？〃

〃H'm！　。　。　。　Grin　away！　Whether　it's　your　doing　or　not；　I　only
know　that　when　your　blood's　on　fire　there's　sure　to　be　bad
weather；　and　when　there's　bad　weather　there's　bound　to
　be　some　crazy　fellow　turning　up　here。　It　happens　so　every　time！
So　it　must　be　you！〃

To　be　more　impressive　the　sexton　put　his　finger　to　his　forehead；
closed　his　left　eye；　and　said　in　a　singsong　voice：

〃Oh；　the　madness！　oh；　the　unclean　Judas！　If　you　really　are　a
human　being　and　not　a　witch；　you　ought　to　think　what　if　he　is　not
the　mechanic；　or　the　clerk；　or　the　huntsman；　but　the　devil　in
their　form！　Ah！　You'd　better　think　of　that！〃

〃Why；　you　are　stupid；　Savely；〃　said　his　wife；　looking　at　him
compassionately。　〃When　father　was　alive　and　living　here；　all
sorts　of　people　used　to　come　to　him　to　be　cured　of　the　ague：　from
the　village；　and　the　hamlets；　and　the　Armenian　settlement。　They
came　almost　every　day；　and　no　one　called　them　devils。　But　if
anyone　once　a　year　comes　in　bad　weather　to　warm　himself；　you
wonder　at　it；　you　silly；　and　take　all　sorts　of　notions　into　your
head　at　once。〃

His　wife's　logic　touched　Savely。　He　stood　with　his　bare　feet　wide
apart；　bent　his　head；　and　pondered。　He　was　not　firmly　convinced
yet　of　the　truth　of　his　suspicions；　and　his　wife's　genuine　and
unconcerned　tone　quite　disconcerted　him。　Yet　after　a　moment's
thought　he　wagged　his　head　and　said：

〃It's　not　as　though　they　were　old　men　or　bandy…legged　cripples；
it's　always　young　men　who　want　to　come　for　the　night。　。　。　。　Why
is　that？　And　if　they　only　wanted　to　warm　themselves　　But　they
are　up　to　mischief。　No；　woman；　there's　no　creature　in　this　world
as　cunning　as　your　female　sort！　Of　real　brains　you've　not　an
ounce；　less　than　a　starling；　but　for　devilish　slyness　
oo…oo…oo！　The　Queen　of　Heaven　protect　us！　There　is　the　postman's
bell！　When　the　storm　was　only　beginning　I　knew　all　that　was　in
your　mind。　That's　your　witchery；　you　spider！〃

〃Why　do　you　keep　on　at　me；　you　heathen？〃　His　wife　lost　her
patience　at　last。　〃Why　do　you　keep　sticking　to　it　like　pitch？〃

〃I　stick　to　it　because　if　anything　　God　forbid　　happens
to…night　。　。　。　do　you　hear？　。　。　。　if　anything　happens　to…night；
I'll　go　straight　off　to…morrow　morning　to　Father　Nikodim　and　tell
him　all　about　it。　'Father　Nikodim；'　I　shall　say；　'graciously
excuse　me；　but　she　is　a　witch。'　'Why　so？'　'H'm！　do　you　want　to
know　why？'　'Certainly。　。　。　。'　And　I　shall　tell　him。　And　woe　to
you；　woman！　Not　only　at　the　dread　Seat　of　Judgment；　but　in　your
earthly　life　you'll　be　punished；　too！　It's　not　for　nothing　there
are　prayers　in　the　breviary　against　your　kind！〃

Suddenly　there　was　a　knock　at　the　window；　so　loud　and　unusual
that　Savely　turned　pale　and　almost　dropped　backwards　with　fright。
His　wife　jumped　up；　and　she；　too；　turned　pale。

〃For　God's　sake；　let　us　come　in　and　get　warm！〃　they　heard　in　a
trembling　deep　bass。　〃Who　lives　here？　For　mercy's　sake！　We've
lost　our　way。〃

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　Raissa；　afraid　to　look　at　the　window。

〃The　post；〃　answered　a　second　voice。

〃You've　succeeded　with　your　devil's　tricks；〃　said　Savely　with　a
wave　of　his　hand。　〃No　mistake；　I　am　right！　Well；　you'd　better
look　out！〃

The　sexton　jumped　on　to