the witch and other stories-第23章

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Anisim　kissed　Varvara；　Aksinya；　and　his　brother。　On　the　steps
Lipa；　too；　was　standing；　she　was　standing　motionless；　looking
away；　and　it　seemed　as　though　she　had　not　come　to　see　him　off　but
just　by　chance　for　some　unknown　reason。　Anisim　went　up　to　her　and
just　touched　her　cheek　with　his　lips。

〃Good…bye；〃　he　said。

And　without　looking　at　him　she　gave　a　strange　smile；　her　face
began　to　quiver；　and　everyone　for　some　reason　felt　sorry　for　her。
Anisim；　too；　leaped　into　the　chaise　with　a　bound　and　put　his　arms
jauntily　akimbo；　for　he　considered　himself　a　good…looking　fellow。

When　they　drove　up　out　of　the　ravine　Anisim　kept　looking　back
towards　the　village。　It　was　a　warm；　bright　day。　The　cattle　were
being　driven　out　for　the　first　time；　and　the　peasant　girls　and
women　were　walking　by　the　herd　in　their　holiday　dresses。　The
dun…coloured　bull　bellowed；　glad　to　be　free；　and　pawed　the　ground
with　his　forefeet。　On　all　sides；　above　and　below；　the　larks　were
singing。　Anisim　looked　round　at　the　elegant　white　church　　it
had　only　lately　been　whitewashed　　and　he　thought　how　he　had
been　praying　in　it　five　days　before；　he　looked　round　at　the
school　with　its　green　roof；　at　the　little　river　in　which　he　used
once　to　bathe　and　catch　fish；　and　there　was　a　stir　of　joy　in　his
heart；　and　he　wished　that　walls　might　rise　up　from　the　ground　and
prevent　him　from　going　further；　and　that　he　might　be　left　with
nothing　but　the　past。

At　the　station　they　went　to　the　refreshment　room　and　drank　a
glass　of　sherry　each。　His　father　felt　in　his　pocket　for　his　purse
to　pay。

〃I　will　stand　treat；〃　said　Anisim。　The　old　man；　touched　and
delighted；　slapped　him　on　the　shoulder；　and　winked　to　the　waiter
as　much　as　to　say；　〃See　what　a　fine　son　I　have　got。〃

〃You　ought　to　stay　at　home　in　the　business；　Anisim；〃　he　said；
〃you　would　be　worth　any　price　to　me！　I　would　shower　gold　on　you
from　head　to　foot；　my　son。〃

〃It　can't　be　done；　papa。〃

The　sherry　was　sour　and　smelt　of　sealing…wax；　but　they　had
another　glass。

When　old　Tsybukin　returned　home　from　the　station；　for　the　first
moment　he　did　not　recognize　his　younger　daughter…in…law。　As　soon
as　her　husband　had　driven　out　of　the　yard；　Lipa　was　transformed
and　suddenly　brightened　up。　Wearing　a　threadbare　old　petticoat；
with　her　feet　bare　and　her　sleeves　tucked　up　to　the　shoulders；
she　was　scrubbing　the　stairs　in　the　entry　and　singing　in　a
silvery　little　voice；　and　when　she　brought　out　a　big　tub　of　dirty
water　and　looked　up　at　the　sun　with　her　childlike　smile　it　seemed
as　though　she；　too；　were　a　lark。

An　old　labourer　who　was　passing　by　the　door　shook　his　head　and
cleared　his　throat。

〃Yes；　indeed；　your　daughters…in…law；　Grigory　Petrovitch；　are　a
blessing　from　God；〃　he　said。　〃Not　women；　but　treasures！〃

V

On　Friday　the　8th　of　July；　Elizarov；　nicknamed　Crutch；　and　Lipa
were　returning　from　the　village　of　Kazanskoe；　where
　they　had　been　to　a　service　on　the　occasion　of　a　church　holiday
in　the　honour　of　the　Holy　Mother　of　Kazan。　A　good　distance　after
them　walked　Lipa's　mother　Praskovya；　who　always　fell　behind；　as
she　was　ill　and　short　of　breath。　It　was　drawing　towards　evening。

〃A…a…a　。　。　。〃　said　Crutch；　wondering　as　he　listened　to　Lipa。
〃A…a！　。　。　。　We…ell！

〃I　am　very　fond　of　jam；　Ilya　Makaritch；〃　said　Lipa。　〃I　sit　down
in　my　little　corner　and　drink　tea　and　eat　jam。　Or　I　drink　it　with
Varvara　Nikolaevna；　and　she　tells　some　story　full　of　feeling。　We
have　a　lot　of　jam　　four　jars。　'Have　some；　Lipa；　eat　as　much　as
you　like。'　〃

〃A…a…a；　four　jars！〃

〃They　live　very　well。　We　have　white　bread　with　our　tea；　and　meat；
too；　as　much　as　one　wants。　They　live　very　well；　only　I　am
frightened　with　them；　Ilya　Makaritch。　Oh；　oh；　how　frightened　I
am！〃

〃Why　are　you　frightened；　child？〃　asked　Crutch；　and　he　looked　back
to　see　how　far　Praskovya　was　behind。

〃To　begin　with；　when　the　wedding　had　been　celebrated　I　was　afraid
of　Anisim　Grigoritch。　Anisim　Grigoritch　did　nothing；　he　didn't
ill…treat　me；　only　when　he　comes　near　me　a　cold　shiver　runs　all
over　me；　through　all　my　bones。　And　I　did　not　sleep　one　night；　I
trembled　all　over　and　kept　praying　to　God。　And　now　I　am　afraid　of
Aksinya；　Ilya　Makaritch。　It's　not　that　she　does　anything；　she　is
always　laughing；　but　sometimes　she　glances　at　the　window；　and　her
eyes　are　so　fierce　and　there　is　a　gleam　of　green　in　them　　like
the　eyes　of　the　sheep　in　the　shed。　The　Hrymin　Juniors　are　leading
her　astray：　'Your　old　man；'　they　tell　her；　'has　a　bit　of　land　at
Butyokino；　a　hundred　and　twenty　acres；'　they　say；　'and　there　is
sand　and　water　there；　so　you；　Aksinya；'　they　say；　'build　a
brickyard　there　and　we　will　go　shares　in　it。'　Bricks　now　are
twenty　roubles　the　thousand；　it's　a　profitable　business。
Yesterday　at　dinner　Aksinya　said　to　my　father…in…law：　'I　want　to
build　a　brickyard　at　Butyokino；　I'm　going　into　business　on　my　own
account。'　She　laughed　as　she　said　it。　And　Grigory　Petrovitch's
face　darkened；　one　could　see　he　did　not　like　it。　'As　long　as　I
live；'　he　said；　'the　family　must　not　break　up；　we　must　go　on
altogether。'　She　gave　a　look　and　gritted　her　teeth。　。　。　。
Fritters　were　served；　she　would　not　eat　them。〃

〃A…a…a！　。　。　。〃　Crutch　was　surprised。

〃And　tell　me；　if　you　please；　when　does　she　sleep？〃　said　Lipa。
〃She　sleeps　for　half　an　hour；　then　jumps　up　and　keeps　walking　and
walking　about　to　see　whether　the　peasants　have　not　set　fire　to
something；　have　not　stolen　something。　。　。　。　I　am　frightened　with
her；　Ilya　Makaritch。　And　the　Hrymin　Juniors　did　not　go　to　bed
after　the　wedding；　but　drove　to　the　town　to　go　to　law　with　each
other；　and　folks　do　say　it　is　all　on　account　of　Aksinya。　Two　of
the　brothers　have　promised　to　build　her　a　brickyard；　but　the
third　is　offended；　and　the　factory　has　been　at　a　standstill　for　a
month；　and　my　uncle　Prohor　is　without　work　and　goes　about　from
house　to　house　getting　crusts。　'Hadn't　you　better　go　working　on
the　land　or　sawing　up　wood；　meanwhile；　uncle？'　I　tell　him；　'why
disgrace　yourself？'　'I've　got　out　of　the　way　of　it；'　he　says；　'I
don't　know　how　to　do　any　sort　of　peasant's　work　now；　Lipinka。'　。
。　。〃

They　stopped　to　rest　and　wait　for　Praskovya　near　a　copse　of　young
aspen…trees。　Elizarov　had　long　been　a　contractor　in　a　small　way；
but　he　kept　no　horses；　going　on　foot　all　over　the　district　with
nothing　but　a　little　bag　in　which　there　was　bread　and　onions；　and
stalking　along　with　big　strides；　swinging　his　arms。　And　it　was
difficult　to　walk　with　him。

At　the　entrance　to　the　copse　stood　a　milestone。　Elizarov　touched
it；　read　it。　Praskovya　reached　them　out　of　breath。　Her　wrinkled
and　always　scared…looking　face　was　beaming　with　happiness；　she
had　been　at　church　to…day　like　anyone　else；　then　she　had　been　to
the　fair　and　there　had　drunk　pear　cider。　For　her　this　was
unusual；　and　it　even　seemed　to　her　now　that　she　had　lived　for　her
own　pleasure　that　day　for　the　first　time　in　her　life。　After
resting　they　all　three　walked　on　side　by　side。　The　sun　had
already　set；　and　its　beams　filtered　through　the　copse；　casting　a
light　on　the　trunks　of　the　trees。　There　was　a　faint　sound　of
voices　ahead。　The　Ukleevo　girls　had　long　before　pushed　on　ahead
but　had　lingered　in　the　copse；　probably　gathering　mushrooms。

〃Hey；　wenches！〃　cried　Elizarov。　〃Hey；　my　beauties！〃

There　was　a　sound　of　laughter　in　response。

〃Crutch　is　coming！　Crutch！　The　old　horseradish。〃

And　the　echo　laughed；　too。　And　then　the　copse　was　left　behind。
The　tops　of　the　factory　chimneys　came　into　view。　The　cross　on　the
belfry　glittered：　this　was　the　village：　〃the　one　at　which　the
deacon　ate　all　the　caviare　at　the　funeral。〃　Now　they　were　almost
home；　they　only　had　to　go　down　into　the　big　ravine。　Lipa　and
Praskovya；　who　had　been　walking　barefooted；　sat　down　on　the　grass
to　put　on　their　boots；　Elizar　sat　down　with　them。　If　they　looked
down　from　above　Ukleevo　looked　beautiful　and　peaceful　with　its
willow…trees；　its　white　church；　and　its　little　river；　and　the
only　blot　on　the　picture　was　the　roof　of　the　factories；　painted
for　the　sake　of　cheapness　a　gloomy　ashen　grey。　On　the　slope　on
the　further　side　they　could　see　the　rye　　some　in　stacks　and
sheaves　here　and　there　as　though　strewn　about　by　the　storm；　and
some　freshly　cut　lying　in　swathes；　the　oats；　too；　were　ripe　and
glistened　now　in　the　sun　like　mother…of…pearl。　It　was
harvest…time。　To…day　was　a　holiday；　to…morrow　they　would　harvest
the　rye　and　carry　the　hay；　and　then　Sunday　a　holiday　again；　every
day　there　were　mutterings　of　distant　thunder。　It　was　misty　and
looked　like　rain；　and；　gazing　now　at　the　fields；　everyone
thought；　God　grant　we　get　the　harvest　in　in　time；　and　everyone
felt　gay　and　joyful　and　anxious　at　heart。

〃Mowers　ask　a　high　price　nowadays；〃　said　Praskovya。　〃One　rouble
and　forty　kopecks　a　day。〃

People　kept　coming　and　coming　from　the　fair　at　Kazanskoe：　peasant
women；　factory　workers　in　new　caps；　beggars；　children。　。　。　。　Here
a　cart　would　drive　by　stirring　up　the　dust　and　behind　it　would
run　an　unsold　horse；　and　it　seemed　glad　it　had　not　been　sold；
then　a　cow　was　led　along　by　the　horns；　resisting　stubbornly；　then
a　cart　again；　and　in　it　drunken　peasants　swinging　their　legs。　An
old　woman　led　a　little　boy　in　a　big　cap　and　big　boots；　the　boy
was　tired　out　with　the　heat　and　the　heavy　boots　which　prevented
his　bending　his　legs　at　the　knees；　but　yet　blew　unceasingly　with
all　his　might　at　a　tin　trumpet。　They　had　gone　down　the　slope　and
turned　into　the　street；　but　the　trumpet　could　still　be　heard。

〃Our　factory　owners　don't　seem　quite　themselves　。　。　。〃　said
Elizarov。　〃There's　trouble。　Kostukov　is　angry　with　me。　'Too　many
boards　have　gone　on　the　cornices。'　'Too　many？　As　many　have　gone
on　it　as　were　needed；　Vassily　Danilitch；　I　don't　eat　them　with　my
porridge。'　'How　can　you　speak　to　me　like　that？'　said　he；　'you
good…for…nothing　blockhead！　Don't　forget　yourself！　It　was　I　made
you　a　contractor。'　'That's　nothing　so　wonderful；'　said　I。　'Even
before　I　was　a　contractor　I　used　to　have　tea　every　day。'　'You　are
a　rascal　。　。　。'　he　said。　I　said　nothing。　'We　are　rascals　in　this
world；'　thought　I；　'and　you　will　be　rascals　in　the　next。　。　。　。'
Ha…ha…ha！　The　next　day　he　was　softer。　'Don't　you　bear　malice
against　me　for　my　words；　Makaritch；'　he　said。　'If　I　said　too
much；'　says　he；　'what　of　it？　I　am　a　merchant　of　the　first　guild；
your　superior　　you　ought　to　hold　your　tongue。'　'You；'　said　I；
'are　a　merchant　of　the　first　guild　and　I　am　a　carpenter；　that's
correct。　And　Saint　Joseph　was　a　carpenter；　too。　Ours　is　a
righteous　calling　and　pleasing　to　God；　and　if　you　are　pleased　to
be　my　superior　you　are　very　welcome　to　it；　Vassily　Danilitch。'
And　later　on；　after　that　conversation　I　mean；　I　thought：　'Which
was　the　superior？　A　merchant　of　the　first　guild　or　a　carpenter？'
The　carpenter　must　be；　my　child！〃

Crutch　thought　a　minute　and　added：

〃Yes；　that's　how　it　is；　child。　He　who　works；　he　who　is　patient　is
the　superior。〃

By　now　the　sun　had　set　and　a　thick　mist　as　white　as　milk　was
rising　over　the　river；　in　the　church　enclosure；　and　in　the　open
spaces　round　the　factories。　Now　when　the　darkness　was　coming　on
rapidly；　when　lights　were　twinkling　belo　w；　and　when　it　seemed　as
though　the　mists　were　hiding　a　fathomless　abyss；　Lipa　and　her
mothe