the witch and other stories-第14章

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〃Oh；　please　don't　let　me　be　in　your　way；〃　I　said。　〃I　can　lie　down
in　the　wood。　。　。　。〃

〃What　next！　She　wouldn't　have　died　if　she　hadn't　come　till
to…morrow。　。　。　。　If　only　she　would　sit　quiet　and　listen；　but　she
always　wants　to　be　slobbering。　。　。　。　You　can't　have　a　good　talk
when　she's　here。〃

〃Are　you　expecting　Darya？〃　I　asked；　after　a　pause。

〃No　。　。　。　a　new　one　has　asked　to　come　this　evening　。　。　。　Agafya；
the　signalman's　wife。〃

Savka　said　this　in　his　usual　passionless；　somewhat　hollow　voice；
as　though　he　were　talking　of　tobacco　or　porridge；　while　I　started
with　surprise。　I　knew　Agafya。　。　。　。　She　was　quite　a　young　peasant
woman　of　nineteen　or　twenty；　who　had　been　married　not　more　than　a
year　before　to　a　railway　signalman；　a　fine　young　fellow。　She
lived　in　the　village；　and　her　husband　came　home　there　from　the
line　every　night。

〃Your　goings　on　with　the　women　will　lead　to　trouble；　my　boy；〃
said　I。

〃Well；　may　be　。　　。　。　。〃

And　after　a　moment's　thought　Savka　added：

〃I've　said　so　to　the　women；　they　won't　heed　me。　。　。　。They　don't
trouble　about　it；　the　silly　things！〃

Silence　followed。　。　。　。　Meanwhile　the　darkness　was　growing
thicker　and　thicker；　and　objects　began　to　lose　their　contours。
The　streak　behind　the　hill　had　completely　died　away；　and　the
stars　were　growing　brighter　and　more　luminous。　。　。　。　The
mournfully　monotonous　chirping　of　the　grasshoppers；　the　call　of
the　landrail；　and　the　cry　of　the　quail　did　not　destroy　the
stillness　of　the　night；　but；　on　the　contrary；　gave　it　an　added
monotony。　It　seemed　as　though　the　soft　sounds　that　enchanted　the
ear　came；　not　from　birds　or　insects；　but　from　the　stars　looking
down　upon　us　from　the　sky。　。　。　。

Savka　was　the　first　to　break　the　silence。　He　slowly　turned　his
eyes　from　black　Kutka　and　said：

〃I　see　you　are　dull；　sir。　Let's　have　supper。〃

And　without　waiting　for　my　consent　he　crept　on　his　stomach　into
the　shanty；　rummaged　about　there；　making　the　whole　edifice
tremble　like　a　leaf；　then　he　crawled　back　and　set　before　me　my
vodka　and　an　earthenware　bowl；　in　the　bowl　there　were　baked　eggs；
lard　scones　made　of　rye；　pieces　of　black　bread；　and　something
else。　。　。　。　We　had　a　drink　from　a　little　crooked　glass　that
wouldn't　stand；　and　then　we　fell　upon　the　food。　。　。　。　Coarse　grey
salt；　dirty；　greasy　cakes；　eggs　tough　as　india…rubber；　but　how
nice　it　all　was！

〃You　live　all　alone；　but　what　lots　of　good　things　you　have；〃　I
said；　pointing　to　the　bowl。　〃Where　do　you　get　them　from？〃

〃The　women　bring　them；〃　mumbled　Savka。

〃What　do　they　bring　them　to　you　for？〃

〃Oh　。　。　。　from　pity。〃

Not　only　Savka's　menu；　but　his　clothing；　too；　bore　traces　of
feminine　〃pity。〃　Thus　I　noticed　that　he　had　on；　that　evening；　a
new　woven　belt　and　a　crimson　ribbon　on　which　a　copper　cross　hung
round　his　dirty　neck。　I　knew　of　the　weakness　of　the　fair　sex　for
Savka；　and　I　knew　that　he　did　not　like　talking　about　it；　and　so　I
did　not　carry　my　inquiries　any　further。　Besides　there　was　not
time　to　talk。　。　。　。　Kutka；　who　had　been　fidgeting　about　near　us
and　patiently　waiting　for　scraps；　suddenly　pricked　up　his　ears
and　growled。　We　heard　in　the　distance　repeated　splashing　of
water。

〃Someone　is　coming　by　the　ford；〃　said　Savka。

Three　minutes　later　Kutka　growled　again　and　made　a　sound　like　a
cough。

〃Shsh！〃　his　master　shouted　at　him。

In　the　darkness　there　was　a　muffled　thud　of　timid　footsteps；　and
the　silhouette　of　a　woman　appeared　out　of　the　copse。　I　recognized
her；　although　it　was　dark　　it　was　Agafya。　She　came　up　to　us
diffidently　and　stopped；　breathing　hard。　She　was　breathless；
probably　not　so　much　from　walking　as　from　fear　and　the　unpleasant
sensation　everyone　experiences　in　wading　across　a　river　at　night。
Seeing　near　the　shanty　not　one　but　two　persons；　she　uttered　a
faint　cry　and　fell　back　a　step。

〃Ah　。　。　。　that　is　you！〃　said　Savka；　stuffing　a　scone　into　his
mouth。

〃Ye…es　。　。　。　I；〃　she　mutte　red；　dropping　on　the　ground　a　bundle
of　some　sort　and　looking　sideways　at　me。　〃Yakov　sent　his
greetings　to　you　and　told　me　to　give　you　。　。　。　something　here。　。
。　。〃

〃Come；　why　tell　stories？　Yakov！〃　laughed　Savka。　〃There　is　no　need
for　lying；　the　gentleman　knows　why　you　have　come！　Sit　down；　you
shall　have　supper　with　us。〃

Agafya　looked　sideways　at　me　and　sat　down　irresolutely。

〃I　thought　you　weren't　coming　this　evening；〃　Savka　said；　after　a
prolonged　silence。　〃Why　sit　like　that？　Eat！　Or　shall　I　give　you　a
drop　of　vodka？〃

〃What　an　idea！〃　laughed　Agafya；　〃do　you　think　you　have　got　hold
of　a　drunkard？　。　。　。〃

〃Oh；　drink　it　up。　。　。　。　Your　heart　will　feel　warmer。　。　。　。
There！〃

Savka　gave　Agafya　the　crooked　glass。　She　slowly　drank　the　vodka；
ate　nothing　with　it；　but　drew　a　deep　breath　when　she　had
finished。

〃You've　brought　something；〃　said　Savka；　untying　the　bundle　and
throwing　a　condescending；　jesting　shade　into　his　voice。　〃Women
can　never　come　without　bringing　something。　Ah；　pie　and　potatoes。
。　。　。　They　live　well；〃　he　sighed；　turning　to　me。　〃They　are　the
only　ones　in　the　whole　village　who　have　got　potatoes　left　from
the　winter！〃

In　the　darkness　I　did　not　see　Agafya's　face；　but　from　the
movement　of　her　shoulders　and　head　it　seemed　to　me　that　she　could
not　take　her　eyes　off　Savka's　face。　To　avoid　being　the　third
person　at　this　tryst；　I　decided　to　go　for　a　walk　and　got　up。　But
at　that　moment　a　nightingale　in　the　wood　suddenly　uttered　two　low
contralto　notes。　Half　a　minute　later　it　gave　a　tiny　high　trill
and　then；　having　thus　tried　its　voice；　began　singing。　Savka
jumped　up　and　listened。

〃It's　the　same　one　as　yesterday；〃　he　said。　〃Wait　a　minute。〃

And；　getting　up；　he　went　noiselessly　to　the　wood。

〃Why；　what　do　you　want　with　it？〃　I　shouted　out　after　him；　〃Stop！〃

Savka　shook　his　hand　as　much　as　to　say；　〃Don't　shout；〃　and
vanished　into　the　darkness。　Savka　was　an　excellent　sportsman　and
fisherman　when　he　liked；　but　his　talents　in　this　direction　were
as　completely　thrown　away　as　his　strength。　He　was　too　slothful　to
do　things　in　the　routine　way；　and　vented　his　passion　for　sport　in
useless　tricks。　For　instance；　he　would　catch　nightingales　only
with　his　hands；　would　shoot　pike　with　a　fowling　piece；　he　would
spend　whole　hours　by　the　river　trying　to　catch　little　fish　with　a
big　hook。

Left　alone　with　me；　Agafya　coughed　and　passed　her　hand　several
times　over　her　forehead。　。　。　。　She　began　to　feel　a　little　drunk
from　the　vodka。

〃How　are　you　getting　on；　Agasha？〃　I　asked　her；　after　a　long
silence；　when　it　began　to　be　awkward　to　remain　mute　any　longer。

〃Very　well；　thank　God。　。　。　。　Don't　tell　anyone；　sir；　will　you？〃
she　added　suddenly　in　a　whisper。

〃That's　all　right；〃　I　reassured　her。　〃But　how　reckless　you　are；
Agasha！　。　。　。　What　if　Yakov　finds　out？〃

〃He　won't　find　out。〃

But　what　if　he　does？〃

〃No　。　。　。　I　shall　be　at　home　before　he　is。　He　is　on　the　line　now；
and　he　will　come　back　when　the　mail　train　brings　him；　and　from
here　I　can　hear　when　the　train's　coming。　。　。　。〃

Agafya　once　more　passed　her　hand　over　her　forehead　and　looked
away　in　the　direction　in　which　Savka　had　vanished。　The
nightingale　was　singing。　Some　night　bird　flew　low　down　close　to
the　ground　and；　noticing　us；　was　startled；　fluttered　its　wings
and　flew　across　to　the　other　side　of　the　river。

Soon　the　nightingale　was　silent；　but　Savka　did　not　come　back。
Agafya　got　up；　took　a　few　steps　uneasily；　and　sat　down　again。

〃What　is　he　doing？〃　she　could　not　refrain　from　saying。　〃The
train's　not　coming　in　to…morrow！　I　shall　have　to　go　away
directly。〃

〃Savka；〃　I　shouted。　〃Savka。〃

I　was　not　answered　even　by　an　echo。　Agafya　moved　uneasily　and　sat
down　again。

〃It's　time　I　was　going；〃　she　said　in　an　agitated　voice。　〃The
train　will　be　here　directly！　I　know　when　the　trains　come　in。〃

The　poor　woman　was　not　mistaken。　Before　a　quarter　of　an　hour　had
passed　a　sound　was　heard　in　the　distance。

Agafya　kept　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　copse　for　a　long　time　and　moved
her　hands　impatiently。

〃Why；　where　can　he　be？〃　she　said；　laughing　nervously。　〃Where　has
the　devil　carried　him？　I　am　going！　I　really　must　be　going。〃

Meanwhile　the　noise　was　growing　more　and　more　distinct。　By　now
one　could　distinguish　the　rumble　of　the　wheels　from　the　heavy
gasps　of　the　engine。　Then　we　heard　the　whistle；　the　train　crossed
the　bridge　with　a　hollow　rumble　。　。　。　another　minute　and　all　was
still。

〃I'll　wait　one　minute　more；〃　said　Agafya；　sitting　down
resolutely。　〃So　be　it；　I'll　wait。

At　last　Savka　appeared　in　the　darkness。　He　walked　noiselessly　on
the　crumbling　earth　of　the　kitchen　gardens　and　hummed　something
softly　to　himself。

〃Here's　a　bit　of　luck；　what　do　you　say　to　that　now？〃　he　said
gaily。　〃As　soon　as　I　got　up　to　the　bush　and　began　taking　aim　with
my　hand　it　left　off　singing！　Ah；　the　bald　dog！　I　waited　and
waited　to　see　when　it　would　begin　again；　but　I　had　to　give　it
up。〃

Savka　flopped　clumsily　down　to　the　ground　beside　Agafya　and；　to
keep　his　balance；　clutched　at　her　waist　with　both　hands。

〃Why　do　you　look　cross；　as　though　your　aunt　were　your　mother？〃　he
asked。

With　all　his　soft…heartedness　and　good…nature；　Savka　despised
women。　He　behaved　carelessly；　condescendingly　with　them；　and　even
stooped　to　scornful　laughter　of　their　feelings　for　himself。　God
knows；　perhaps　this　careless；　contemptuous　manner　was　one　of　the
causes　of　his　irresistible　attraction　for　the　village　Dulcineas。
He　was　handsome　and　well…built；　in　his　eyes　there　was　always　a
soft　friendliness；　even　when　he　was　looking　at　the　women　he　so
despised；　but　the　fascination　was　not　to　be　explained　by　merely
external　qualities。　Apart　from　his　happy　exterior　and　original
manner；　one　must　suppose　that　the　touching　position　of　Savka　as
an　acknowledged　failure　and　an　unhappy　exile　from　his　own　hut　to
the　kitchen　gardens　also　had　an　influence　upon　the　women。

〃Tell　the　gentleman　what　you　have　come　here　for！〃　Savka　went　on；
still　holding　Agafya　by　the　waist。　〃Come；　tell　him；　you　good
married　woman！　Ho…ho！　Shall　we　have　another　drop　of　vodka；　friend
Agasha？〃

I　got　up　and；　threading　my　way　between　the　plots；　I　walked　the
length　of　the　kitchen　garden。　The　dark　beds　looked　like
flattened…out　graves。　They　smelt　of　dug　earth　and　the　tender
dampness　of　plants　beginning　to　be　covered　with　dew。　。　。　。　A　red
light　was　still　gleaming　on　the　left。　It　winked　genially　and
seemed　to　smile。

I　heard　a　happy　laugh。　It　was　Agafya　laughing。

〃And　the　train？〃　I　thought。　〃The　train　has　come　in　long　ago。〃

Waiting　a　little　longer；　I　went　back　to　the　shanty。　Savka　was
sitting　motionless；　his　legs　crossed　like　a　Turk；　and　was　softly；
scarcely　audibly　humming　a　song　consisting　of　words　of　one
syllable　something　like：　〃Out　on　you；　fie　on　you　。　。　。　I　and
you。〃　Agafya；　intoxicated　by　the　vodka；　by　Savka's　scornful
caresses；　and　by　the　stifling　warmth　of　the　night；　was　lying　on
the　earth　beside　him；　pressing　her　face　convulsively　to　his
knees。　She　was　so　carried　away　by　her　feelings　that　she　did　not
even　notice　my　arrival。

〃Agasha；　the　train　has　been　in　a　long　time；〃　I　said。

〃It's　time　　it's　time　you　were　gone；〃　Savka；　tossing　his　head；
took　up　my　thought。　〃What　are　you　sprawling　here　for？　You
shameless　hussy！〃

Agafya　started；　took　her　head　from　his